The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to refrain from charging visa fees from tourists arriving in Sri Lanka from five countries. The countries are China, Russia, India, Thailand and Indonesia. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Priyantha Fernando said the decision was reached with the aim of increasing foreign tourist attraction. […]

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has unveiled a new campaign under the slogan – Sri Lanka “you will come back for more”- at the International French Travel Market (IFTM) trade show in Paris, France. Issuing a statement, the SLTPB said Sri Lanka had a strong momentum at the IFTM Top Resa with the […]

Aims for an ambitious 147,789 monthly target   Cumulative arrivals reach over 1.04 m mark   India remains top source market followed by Russia, UK, China and Germany  Sri Lanka is off to an encouraging start in October, welcoming a total of 26,272 tourists within the first eight days of the month.  This surge in arrivals is […]

Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minter Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said Sri Lanka’s main airport, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayke, has made a profit of Rs.22 billion for the January to August period. “In the first eight months of this year alone, the airport has managed to generate a substantial profit of Rs.22 billion […]

Sri Lanka once again showed its full potential as a world renowned travel destination at the Embassy Festival 2023, held in the Beautiful city of Hague, Netherlands. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in the Netherlands, made this participation a success by creating an attractive Sri Lanka Pavilion which […]

This comprises for almost 20% of all tourists coming to the island. Sri Lanka in general witnessed tourist arrivals to exceed the million mark by the end of last month. In the period up to September 2023, earnings from tourism have increased to 1.5 billion USD. After 2019, the sector saw a drop due to […]

Year-end holidays are approaching, and that means the travel season is upon us! This time around, if you’re still wondering where to spend your holidays, why not try something new and plan a trip to Sri Lanka?  This island country is home to many natural wonders and attractions. From pristine beaches and scenic hills to […]

Immerse yourself in tales of Sri Lanka! Embark on a journey through Sri Lanka’s wild wonders and serene shores, encounter elusive leopards, witness majestic whales, and unwind on pristine beaches. Dive into the lush landscapes of tea plantations that paint the hills in vibrant shades of green! Aitken Spence Travels will be part of the […]

In commemoration of World Tourism Day 2023, Aitken Spence Travels and the Department of Wildlife Conservation Sri Lanka joined forces in a pioneering partnership to raise awareness about the protection of leopard cubs nestled in the central hills of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is a unique subspecies endemic to Sri […]

September sees cumulative figure top 1 million mark YTD figure up 276% but still 25% below benchmark year 2018 India emerges top source market YTD with 200,310 tourists, followed by Russia, the UK Chinese arrivals see improvement with Golden Week holidays The month of September drew 111,938 tourists and Sri Lanka welcomed its one millionth […]

Sri Lanka impressed the Russian travel and trade community by showcasing it’s galore of holiday opportunities to make the Russian travelers to consider about having a different experience in a different destination, at the Leisure/OTDYKH Travel & Tourism Exhibition held in Moscow from 12th -14th September 2023, for the 29th successive year. The Sri Lankan […]

On Tuesday, September 26th, 2023, Aitken Spence Travels, a pioneer in redefining travel experiences, unveiled its fleet of branded vehicles to its management team at the ASTL Yard in Mattakkuliya. With a focus on luxury, comfort, and convenience in group travel, the company showcased a fleet that promises to set new benchmarks in travel experiences, […]