Aitken Spence Travels nurtures tourism best practices with communities

Aitken Spence Travels partnered the staff of Turyaa Kalutara and the local community for an environmental and professional empowerment program recently. 

The travel company conducted an educational workshop for members of the local community whose livelihoods depend on tourism. The workshop covered topics such as how to interact with tourists, how to be a professional service provider and how to conserve the environment that contributes to their profession and the industry. The key facilitator for the program was Palitha Pushpa Kumara – Assistant Director for Tourism Development and Community Relations of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. 

As part of the engagement, Aitken Spence Travels and Turyaa Kalutara resort staff joined the local community in a beach cleaning exercise on Kalutara beach recently which coincided with International Ozone Conservation Day on 16 September. 

Sri Lanka’s largest travel company, Aitken Spence Travels, is a joint venture between leading conglomerate Aitken Spence Plc and TUI, the world’s number one integrated tourism company. It served an unprecedented 153,000 visitors to Sri Lanka during its last financial year.

Commenting on this program, Chief Operating Officer Aitken Spence Travels Tikiri Ellapola stated: “We believe this program will be the beginning of a positive relationship in engaging the community in a different way going beyond our core business objectives of being a Destination Management Company. As Sri Lanka’s number 1 DMC, we will be the bridge between the hotel and the area community to develop sustainable programs that are marketable with overseas agents. This way the community will be engaged in an organised manner to achieve a common objective. We are thankful to the SLTDA’s Assistant Director of Community Relations for sharing his expertise and time with us.”

With a legacy of expanding Sri Lanka’s tourism presence beyond traditional markets and producing some of the most respected professionals in the industry, Aitken Spence Travels is the only travel company in Sri Lanka to win the Presidential Award for the best destination management company and professional conference organiser for three consecutive years and to enter the Hall of Fame. 

The winner of many PATA gold awards, including the Most Innovative Excursion award in 2014, Aitken Spence Travels was the first DMC to obtain ISO 9001:2008. The company’s operations conform to ISO 14001:2015 environmental standards while being certified carbon neutral. 

Aitken Spence Travels’ core business consists of handling inbound tour operations to Sri Lanka comprising mainstream tour operations, excursions, cruise handling, nature and adventure, sports, MICE and the online and luxury segments. Its outbound travel division provides holiday packages while representing leading brands such as Carlson Wagonlit, Rail Europe and Emirates Holidays.