The Pekoe Trail Organisation (TPTO) hosted its first Destination Management Company (DMC) Insider Session at Colabs Training Room, Mireka Towers, Havelock City, bringing together over 25 industry leaders to explore how Sri Lanka’s first long-distance hiking trail can drive the country’s next wave of sustainable and regenerative tourism.

The session marked the first time TPTO’s vision, governance, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model were formally presented to the industry. Designed to equip DMCs with insights on marketing and selling the trail, the event also laid the foundation for a series of workshops to strengthen long term collaboration.

“The Pekoe Trail is more than a hiking path, it is a national asset and a shared responsibility,” said Pramudith Thenabadu, Executive Director of TPTO. “Our six-pillar mandate trail infrastructure, community engagement, conservation, stakeholder collaboration, financial sustainability, and marketing ensures it can be confidently integrated into DMC itineraries.”

Key highlights included:

• Community impact & partnerships – Senior Consultant Renusha Gomis highlighted TPTO’s PPP model, and a new collaboration with Frella to launch an organic wellness range for hikers that DMCs can integrate into curated client experiences.
• Beyond hiking – Head of Operations Ayesh showcased new opportunities across wildlife, history, wellness, family travel, and soft adventure, introduced wheelchair-accessible trail sections, and announced a two level certification program for Pekoe Trail hosts.
• Trail Pass & stewardship – Signature Experience Specialist Kushlani Karunaratne emphasized the Trail Pass as a key tool to regulate access, prevent overcrowding, and fund long term conservation, while offering DMCs exclusive partner benefits.

By creating space for collaboration, the Insider Session enabled DMCs to explore curated niche itineraries that highlight less traveled regions of Sri Lanka, supporting local communities while diversifying the country’s tourism offering.

Through collective action, the initiative positions Sri Lanka as a regenerative tourism destination, blending inclusivity and diversity with niche experiences such as slow travel, wellness tourism, and soft adventure to elevate the country’s global appeal and redefine sustainable travel in the region.