Sri Lanka’s leading destination management company secures Gold for Best Inbound Travel Agent/DMC and Best Cruise Travel Agent at the landmark 10th South Asian Travel Awards 

Aitken Spence Travels has once again affirmed its place at the very top of the regional travel trade, winning both South Asia’s Best Inbound Travel Agent/DMC and South Asia’s Best Cruise Travel Agent at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026 – the fourth consecutive year the company has claimed this coveted double. 

The awards were presented at the Grand Gala of SATA’s 10th anniversary edition, held recently at Barceló Nasandhura in Malé, which brought together tourism leaders, hoteliers and travel brands from Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The honours were received on behalf of the company by Suranga Ratnayake, Vice President / Chief Operating Officer of Aitken Spence Travels. 

For a company that has made consistency its hallmark, the timing could hardly be more fitting. SATA marked a decade of recognising excellence in South Asian tourism this year, with close to a thousand nominations from across the region assessed through a rigorous evaluation tour that spanned Colombo, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Kathmandu, Paro, Dhaka and the Maldives, alongside online public voting. To emerge on top in two categories for a fourth straight year is a clear statement of regional leadership. 

Accepting the awards, Suranga Ratnayake dedicated the recognition to the people behind the company’s success saying “Winning these two awards for the fourth consecutive year means a great deal to us because it reflects the consistency of what we do and our continued market leadership. Our business has always been built on trust, quality and doing things the right way. We believe in fair partnerships, responsible tourism and creating value for everyone who is part of the journey. This recognition belongs to our team, our partners and all those who continue to place their trust in Aitken Spence Travels. For us, leadership is not only about scale, but about setting standards and continuing to raise them” 

Beyond scale, Aitken Spence Travels has positioned itself as a pioneer in sustainable tourism. It remains one of the only Travelife-certified destination management company in Sri Lanka and has also achieved certification aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) – credentials that matter increasingly to international partners and conscious travellers alike. Sustainability, the company has made clear, sits at the core of its vision for the future of Sri Lankan tourism. 

Aitken Spence Travels’ latest double Gold is more than a corporate milestone; it is a vote of confidence in Sri Lanka as a destination. Regional recognition of this calibre strengthens the island’s credibility with global trade partners and underlines the depth of professional expertise that Sri Lanka’s private sector brings to the industry. 

With four consecutive years at the top of South Asian travel, Aitken Spence Travels has set a standard that the region’s travel trade will be measuring itself against for some time to come.