Young voices. Local stories.
Public Speaking Competition
Secondary and Tertiary section students speak on youth innovation, digital technology and sustainable tourism — with winners in every district.
Themes, categories & awardsRuhunu NextGen Tourism — Explore. Create. Lead.
Ruhunu NextGen Tourism
Young ideas shaping responsible tourism across Sri Lanka’s Southern Province.
300schools in the network
9education zones
3districts of the Southern Province
4competitions & challenges
Rooted in the South. Looking ahead.
A classroom beginning.
A province of possibilities.
Ruhunu NextGen Tourism brings students, school tourism clubs and teachers into the conversation about responsible tourism — through local discovery, creative expression and ideas that start close to home. A Ruhunu Tourist Bureau programme for Sri Lanka’s Southern Province.
Get to know the programmeExplore. Create. Lead. In practice.
There’s more than one
way to make a difference.
Ideas worth writing down.
Essay Competition
Secondary and Tertiary section students write about digital tourism, technology for sustainability and the value of cultural heritage.
Themes, categories & awardsA new perspective, in colour.
Art Competition
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary section students show Sri Lanka’s destinations, culture and the future of tourism — plus a Most Popular Art Creation award.
Themes, categories & awardsSmall ideas. Real projects.
Student & Youth Innovation Challenge
A/L students and youth club members propose practical solutions for tourism, environmental, social and community challenges. The best are funded and built.
Themes, categories & awards Speech. Essay. Art. Innovation.
Run through school tourism clubs in Galle, Matara and Hambantota, with places awarded in every district.
Awards & recognitionKey dates
The year ahead, at a glance.
- 27Sep 2026
World Tourism Day 2026
The programme is aligned with World Tourism Day and its theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”.
- Date to be announced
Ruhunu NextGen Tourism Awards Ceremony
Recognising competition winners, outstanding tourism clubs and student projects.
- Opening soon
Innovation Challenge — call for proposals
A/L students and youth club members submit project proposals through their school tourism club or youth club.
- Open now
School tourism club registration
Teacher coordinators and principals can register their school’s club online at any time.
A school-led network
Local clubs.
A shared direction.
Teacher coordinators across the province are bringing tourism clubs into their schools. Find your school in the directory, or register your club.
Education zones300 schools
300 schools
across 9 zones.
The directory grows as more schools join and register their clubs.
From the programme
The next chapter is taking shape.
EXPLORE.
CREATE.
LEAD.
CREATE.
LEAD.
Announcement · 5 October 2026
Welcome to the Ruhunu NextGen Tourism website
School clubs, competitions, awards and programme news — now in one place. Teacher coordinators can register their school’s tourism club online.
Read the updateSchool outreach · 5 August 2026
Teachers across the province join tourism club awareness sessions
Teacher-awareness sessions in the Elpitiya, Galle, Ambalangoda and Morawaka education zones introduced school tourism clubs to teachers across the province.
Read more PartnershipsSri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation joins as Official Media Partner
The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation has been welcomed as the Official Media Partner of the Ruhunu Next Gen Tourism Project 2026.
Read more