Aitken Spence Travels, the foremost destination management company in Sri Lanka, welcomed the inaugural special charter flight from Uzbekistan for the Winter 2023/24 season to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) recently. Operated by ‘Uzbekistan Airways’, the national career of Uzbekistan, the flight brought nearly 200 Uzbek holidaymakers to Sri Lanka.

Throughout their stay, the visitors could enjoy the golden sandy beaches of the southern belt and explore the country via different excursions. From luxurious 4 and 5 star accommodation options to charming boutique properties along the coastal area, guests are expected to experience the true essence of Sri Lankan hospitality.

Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels Mr. Nalin Jayasundera, stated that “The operation was made possible through our strategic partnership with the leading Uzbekistan tour operator after conducting several meetings. During these visits we held comprehensive destination presentations to educate and enhance agents’ product knowledge. Further familiarisation tours to the agents to experience and enjoy the exotic diversity of Sri Lanka as a true holiday destination has been provided to help promote the country”.

Commenting on this significant flight arrival to MRIA, Jt. Deputy Chairperson and Jt. Deputy Managing Director of Aitken Spence and Head of Tourism & Leisure for the Group, Stasshani Jayawardena said, “We are delighted to tap into this emerging source markets and be able to operate charters to grow visitor numbers. This shows our partner’s confidence in our ability to deliver a quality service and our ability to manage all logistics towards this special flight operation commencing in December 2023”.

Uzbekistan is an emerging market for Sri Lanka and as we step into the third season of this venture, the flights are anticipated to continue operations until end of April 2024. With over forty-five years of crafting unforgettable memories in inbound tourism, Aitken Spence Travels remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding horizons and earning the trust of agents in new territories. We will continue to contribute to the growth and sustenance of tourism and build a positive impact in our operators and stakeholders’ mindset for the progress of the destination.