Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Tuesday, 29 December 2015 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Lebanese Travel Agents Association (LTAA) President Jean Abboud along with a group of high profiled Lebanese tour agents on an educational tour to Sri Lanka was welcomed and hosted by Aitken Spence Travels recently. The group’s main objective was to update themselves about the destination and explore possibilities of developing new tours based on the 14-year relationship that the company has been enjoying.
As the market leader that penetrated the Lebanese market way back in 2001, Aitken Spence Travels has enjoyed the first mover advantage and handles the bulk of the inbound Lebanese travellers to Sri Lanka. The country recorded over 3,700 Lebanese travellers last year and this number is currently growing at 20%.
The Lebanese travellers prefer to travel to Sri Lanka specifically during Eid, Easter, Christmas holidays and summer holidays which usually fall during June, July and August. Many honeymooners and groups prefer Sri Lanka as a destination and enjoy the many new attractions the country has to offer including shopping at all international branded stores.
Commenting on his visit to Sri Lanka Abboud said, “I have been in love with Sri Lanka since my first visit way back in 2001. I could safely say that this is my second home. You have a beautiful country which is a tropical destination to many Lebanese who enjoys attractions of the abundance of the beautiful nature, the rich culture, the sandy beaches and the varied wild life Sri Lanka has to offer. So we need to look at creating more and more new tours highlighting these products to attract travellers from Lebanon that would further strengthen and grow the market”
“We have invested heavily in this market ever since we entered it. All our efforts through promotions, airline promotions and educating the agents have paid rich dividends in reaching the current position. We will not relay on our current laurels and will ensure that we further strengthen the relationships and develop more tours that would help us tap in to untapped potential travellers of Lebanon,” stated Aitken Spence Travels AVP Marketing Darell de Crusz.
Aitken Spence Travels, the winner of the Presidential award for three consecutive years and the only DMC to enter the Hall of Fame as well as being the recipient of Sri Lanka Tourism Award for Professional Conference Organiser. The company was also the proud recipient of the prestigious PATA gold award in 2014 under the Environment – Ecotourism Project for an innovative excursion program developed together with the Elpitiya plantations.
Aitken Spence Travels is fully diversified in to every aspect of tourism related activities namely; Leisure, Eco, Adventure, MICE and Cruise. It is considered as the leader in destination management in Sri Lanka with its creative and innovative tours and services. Partnered with the world’s largest tourism integrated company, TUI group, with over three decades of experience, the company is backed by a reputation of being the most professional in the business.
Pic by Kumarasiri Prasad – Airport Correspondent
