Aitken Spence Travels welcomed 4,000 cruise tourists to Sri Lanka on the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. 
The luxurious cruise ships MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica docked into the Port of Colombo, with the atmosphere filled with excitement and celebrations.
The shore excursion teams from Aitken Spence Travels were on site, ready to delight these visitors with an array of experiences that showcased the very best of Sri Lanka during the holiday season. 

From exploring the vibrant local culture through traditional dance shows, enjoying the wonderful tuk-tuk rides, experiencing the city life and visiting a variety of attractions to enjoying an unforgettable trip to Sri Lanka were on offer to the visitors. “Sri Lanka was recently ranked in the Forbes list as one of the 23 best places to visit in 2023 and it’s crucial that we maintain our position and become one of the most popular destinations not just in South Asia but in Asia. I am delighted that Aitken Spence Travels (destination management segment of Aitken Spence) has played an instrumental role in growing the cruise tourism operation, which has evidently had a positive impact on other key industries such as hospitality, shipping, ports businesses to support the economy,” commented Stasshani Jayawardena, Executive Director Aitken Spence PLC, Head of the Tourism and Leisure Sector for the company. 

Further commenting on this significant contribution to Sri Lanka tourism’s arrival numbers, Aitken Spence Travels Managing Director Nalin Jayasundera stated, “We are delighted to be in the forefront of bringing in a large volume of tourists to Sri Lanka. As a leading DMC, we will continue to work directly in convincing cruise operators to dock in Sri Lanka to enjoy the natural beauty the country has to offer.

Needless to say, these are efforts that are seeing results today, due to the active role we played in building confidence of the destination whilst ensuring the shore excursion itineraries were attractive and unique. We are thankful for the support extended by all the stakeholders for a smooth operation and for our cruise guests to have a positive experience of Sri Lanka.”

One delighted visitor on an excursion exclaimed, “I did not know Sri Lanka was this beautiful. I was thrilled to see how my favourite spice, cinnamon, is made in Sri Lanka. I have always used cinnamon as a powdered product but didn’t know that it’s mainly a bark of a tree.”

Aitken Spence Travels enjoyed a tremendously successful 2023 cruise season, with over 10 cruise calls that have docked at all the ports of Colombo, Galle, Hambantota and Trincomalee.

Source: ASTL Team

Aitken Spence Travels, the leading DMC that handles the highest cruise calls for shore excursion to Sri Lanka will handle the 1^st luxury passenger cruise ship Viking Mars, USA on the 18^th – 19^th November 2022. Viking Mars will be calling over at the Colombo port with 900 passengers on board commencing the Winter season for Cruise calls after the pandemic.

The company will be offering an array of Sri Lankan shore excursion packages that are unique and diverse allowing clients to discover our island nation. In their journeys they will visit Kandy, Pinnawela, go on city tours in Galle, Walking tours in Colombo, venture on boat tours in Muthurajawela and Madu river, Agro village experiences, tuk tuk tours, cultural shows, culinary experiences, art and architecture tours with Ceylon tea experiences etc.

Commenting on the ships visiting Sri Lanka, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels Mr. Nalin Jayasundera stated, “our team worked hard for over twelve months in securing these cruise calls. Shore excursion destinations are usually locked in twenty-four months ahead and we have to make sure our pricing is attractive, appealing and relevant”. Further “we appreciate the support extended by Sri Lanka Ports authority and their security teams, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau & all other stake holders to ensure cruise guests have a positive experience in Sri Lanka”. The country needs to have a peaceful environment to attract more visitors and as DMC’s we will continue to promote the destination aggressively through our marketing and promotional work.

Our drive & passion in curating travel allows us to continue to be the No 1 DMC in Sri Lanka. Aitken Spence Travels have been in operation for over 45 years & the long term relationship, trust and reliability is what helps us continue to work with our partners to become the most sought after travel solutions specialists.

Source: ASTL

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are considering launching a cruise service between Colombo and Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Tourism Ministry said.

This was revealed during  a meeting between Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taregmd Ariful Islam and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga at the Ministry of Tourism.

Accordingly, it was decided to launch a cruise service between the two countries in the future.

Minister Ranatunga said that more attention should be paid to uplift the tourism industry in the South Asian region through regional conferences such as BIMSTEC and SAARC.

He also said that a joint tourism action plan should be implemented in these countries through a conference of tourism ministers of South Asian countries.

The Bangladesh High Commissioner said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism is expected to be signed between the two countries.

During a visit to Bangladesh by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier, it was decided to sign the MoU between the two countries.

The Bangladesh High Commissioner said that the MoU has been drafted and is expected to be signed soon.

The High Commissioner pointed out that the assistance of those involved in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is essential for the revival of the tourism industry in Bangladesh and requested the Minister to assist in that endeavor.

Minister Ranatunga said that Sri Lanka is ready to come forward at any time.

It was revealed that SriLankan Airlines currently operates direct flights between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner said that a private airline from Bangladesh is all set to launch direct flights between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Source: http://www.travelvoice.lk/cruise-service-between-dhaka-and-colombo-to-be-launched/

Yacht tourism has become an important opportunity for countries that see tourism as a means of growth because of its volume of business, foreign exchange revenue, socioeconomic and socio-cultural effects, and a growing number of investments for yacht tourism have been made and used in a variety of ways. With such significant advancements, it is important to raise awareness of the sustainability of yacht tourism as a booming industry vertical.

Lanka Shipping and Logistics Ltd. (LSL) served the first passenger yacht, under the LSL Agency in the Port of Colombo on Sri Lankan shores last week. LSL, being the pioneers in ship agency services for the past decade, provided the passenger yacht with a variety of services during her maiden call in Colombo. The passenger yacht of Italian origin which left the European shores from Genoa, Italy, transiting through the Suez Canal, arrived on Sri Lankan shores for the first time on 10 March.

Services ranging from fresh and frozen provisions supplies, technical spares supplies, bonded stores supplies, fresh water supply and waste reception were provided. LSL ensured all the necessary arrangements in place to provide all agency services, and other miscellaneous services and with its professional, dedicated and highly efficient operations team working around the clock 24×7, all formalities and services were met without any hassles or any delays making this vessel call a successful one whilst ensuring that all new norms of quarantine and methods of working were met.

Source: http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/LSL-welcomes-first-super-luxury-passenger-yacht-under-ship-agency-services/27-715187

Despite the coronavirus outbreak which affected the whole world, and precautionary warnings which were dispatched, it has not made a major impact on cruise tourism, for tourists tend to arrive by sea even at the moment. This fact was further proven as Sri Lanka was able to receive two more calls to port from two massive passenger vessels – the ‘Sun Princess’ and ‘Queen Mary 2’, which embarked on 4 and 5 February, respectively.

Special tourist information counters were stationed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) in each vessel, with the intention of giving the visitors a glimpse of Sri Lanka, its importance as an ideal destination to travel and explore, best tourist locations to visit, and its cultural value.

The arrival of these two vessels subsequently highlighted the important role which cruise tourism plays in encouraging more tourist arrivals and boosting up the tourism sector. The officials of the Tourist Information Counters in both vessels were able to attract interested visitors to gain more information about Sri Lanka and its unique attractions. The arrival of these two passenger vessels brought a significant impact and a touch of elegance to the Colombo Port.

The Sun Princess makes her arrival in Colombo 

The passenger vessel Sun Princess, belonging to the Princess Cruises Shipping Line, was the first to arrive at the Colombo Harbour on 4 February, coming from Phuket, Thailand. Most of the passengers on board were of Australian origin, but also carrying other nationalities as well. Malship (Ceylon) was the Sri Lankan shipping line while the Ground Handling was done by Lotus Destination Lanka Ltd. They were scheduled to travel to Mahe, Seychelles on 8 February after their tour in Sri Lanka.

During their stay, the passengers of the vessel were able to visit several tourist attractions including Akuressa, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Negombo, Tea Plantations, Kandy Tooth Temple, Mount Lavinia Beach, Colombo City Tour and shopping in Colombo. Though it was a short stay the tourists enjoyed exploring the beauty and uniqueness of Sri Lanka which made them consider selecting Sri Lanka as their next travel destination. This massive vessel has the capability of carrying 2,200 passengers on board, and consists of 920 crew members. The vessel is equipped with every luxury facility to ensure that the visitors will have a perfect and comfortable journey which they will enjoy.

The Sun Princess is equipped with facilities such as three pools, five whirlpools, gym, lotus spa, beauty salon, sauna, aerobics spa, shuffleboard, sports court and deck 7 wrap-around promenade walk. It provides endless entertainment options such as a princess theatre, etc., and other facilities include shops, an art gallery, photo gallery, laundromat, and a medical centre. It also has three dining rooms, restaurants, cafés and bars. The vessel has every feature that an ideal traveller would really wish for – fully-equipped with the latest modern facilities.

Queen Mary 2 docks at the Colombo Harbour 

The next to arrive was Queen Mary 2, which started its journey from Southampton, UK, and embarked on the Colombo port on 5 February. It was scheduled to travel to Phuket, Thailand, on 9th February. Most of the passengers included UK nationals, and on their stay they were able to visit Akuressa Tea Plantation, Galle Fort, Unawatuna, Martin Wickremasinghe museum, Kelaniya Temple, Mount Lavinia Beach, Colombo City attractions and also shopping in Colombo. On this tour, Shipping Agency Services Ltd. represented the Sri Lankan shipping line, while the Ground Handling was done by Abacombi Travel.

The vessel has the capacity of carrying 2,800 passengers on board including 1,254 crew members, and 150,000 of tonnage. This gigantic vessel belongs to ‘Cunrad Line’ Shipping Company and is of Bermudan origin, which is equipped with a large variety of facilities. The vessel is equipped with various facilities including five restaurants. The vessel also offers a range of other facilities including shops, a bookshop, boardroom, meeting room, photo studio, art gallery and a medical centre, among numerous other facilities.

During the month of January, most of the tourist arrivals by sea was reported by India, which recorded a total of 41,448. Cruise tourism has become another important source of revenue to Sri Lanka, which brings high spending tourists to the country and promoting the touristic value of the destination, which indicates that cruise tourism has added its contribution in order to boost the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

Source:http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/Sun-Princess-and-Queen-Mary-2-call-to-port-with-elegance-and-glamour/27-696390

The Port of Colombo hit another milestone by receiving the massive passenger vessel Artania on 13 February and on her way to Pulau We, Indonesia on 16 February, carrying mostly German passengers who were keen to have an experience of a lifetime.

This vessel operates under the German Shipping Company, Phoenix Reisen, and the Sri Lankan representative was Ceyline Maritime Services Ltd. Ground handling was done by Walkers Tours Ltd., and they covered tourist attractions such as Galle Fort, Unawatuna, Kandy, Kelaniya temple, Mount Lavinia beach, Colombo City Tour and finally shopping in Colombo.  

A Tourist Information Counter was established in the vessel by Sri Lanka Tourism, to provide useful information and guidance regarding Sri Lanka and its unique characteristics, and the visitors were seen as highly concerned to know more about this beautiful destination.

The vessel has the ability to carry a total occupancy of 1,200 and it carried 900 passengers this time and 420 crew members. Carrying the Bermudan Flag, the vessel is 755 ft in length, and the dining facilities include five restaurants.

In terms of health and fitness, nothing has been missed as there are five pools, five whirlpools, a gym, Canyon Ranch spa, beauty salon, basketball court, golf practice nets, and a shuffle board, etc., while the other facilities include modes of entertainment such as a Royal Court theatre, Queens Room ballroom, Illuminations planetarium, cinema, and classical music, G32 nightclub, library, Connexions internet centre, The Play Zone children’s club, and a Baby Zone.

Other facilities include shops, a bookshop, boardroom and a meeting room, photo studio, art gallery, photo gallery and a medical centre.

This gigantic cruise vessel embarked at the Colombo Port as a courtesy call, and also to explore the uniqueness of Sri Lanka as a travel destination and the scenic locations.

Cruise tourism plays an important role in boosting the tourism sector in Sri Lanka, thereby enabling more tourists to visit the destination. Sri Lanka receives several passenger ships a year, and this cruise arrival can be highlighted as one such moment where Sri Lanka will be known all around the world as an iconic travel destination, with so much to explore.

Source:http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/With-over-1-300-onboard-Artania-shows-off-her-elegance-at-Colombo-Port/27-696272

The Colombo Harbour was checking all the members who had arrived via the ships if they were infected by the coronavirus.

The global cruise tourism market is poised to grow in the coming years, registering a 6% increase from the 2018 figures of 28.2 million, according to leading research firm Advance Market Analytics.

This growth is primarily driven by an increase in the preference to luxury lifestyle and spending over leisure travel, rising interest of people towards travelling the world via waters and increase in onboard facilities and offerings, stated the Advance Market Analytics in its Global Cruise Tourism Forecast till 2025 report.

Cruise tourism is a lavish form of travelling that involves all-inclusive holiday on a cruise ship for a minimum 48 hours. These ships call for different ports of different cities so that people can enjoy their travel by exploring various cities, it stated.

According to the study, the rising interest of people to travel the world by the means of water coupled with enjoying lavish lifestyle have contributed to a tremendous growth in this tourism.

Hence the cruise industries are expected to grow throughout 2019 with an estimated 30 million travellers, it added.

Some of the key players covered under the study inlcuded Carnival Corporation, Disney Cruise Lines, NCL Corporation and Royal Caribbean (all from US) and Italy-based MSC Cruises.

Source:http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/Boom-time-for-international-cruise-tourism-says-report/27-693288

The majestic Mein Schiff

The Marella Discovery

The months of November and December were frequently marked with passenger cruises arriving from different parts of the world, and adding further to the number of tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka this year.

Several cruise liners arrived during the past few months, including Costa Fortuna, Marella Discovery, Sapphire Princess and Mein Schiff 6, to name a few. The visits of these passenger cruises were added contribution to the tourism promotional activities carried out by Sri Lanka Tourism.

Costa Fortuna
Costa Fortuna, the majestic and gigantic looking Italian cruise liner, docked at the Colombo Port on 25 of November, with 2,500 passengers on board. The visitors were given a warm welcome by officials of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

A traditional dance troupe which was organised by SLTPB along with the welcome kept the visitors mesmerised with their spectacular performance and glamour.

The ground handling was done by Lotus Destination Lanka Ltd., while Aitken Spence made their contribution as the Sri Lankan shipping line. During their stay the passengers of the cruise liner visited various tourist attractions of Sri Lanka, including Akuressa Tea Plantation, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Negombo, tea plantations, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy, Mount Lavinia beach, Colombo city attractions and shopping in Colombo. 

The vessel started its journey Genoa, Italy on 8 November and ended on 10 December by reaching Singapore as its final destination. The vessel carries mostly Italian and German passengers and can carry a capacity of 3,400 passengers. Currently it has 1,100 crew members and is 893 ft in length, built in 2003.

It has a wide range of facilities built especially for high-spending tourists who want to have the best   vacation worth their expenditure. The vessel has three restaurants – Michelangelo restaurant, Raffaelo restaurant, Cristoforo Colombo buffet restaurant, and club Conte Grande a la Carte restaurant. It includes 11 bars, three swimming pools, four whirlpools, Club Salute Saturnia Spa and Gym, sports court and jogging track.

It has its own exquisite options of entertainment such as a cinema theatre, card room, internet point, meeting room, shops and a medical centre.

Cruise arrivals have been on the rise with Sri Lanka being promoted as a safe and an ideal tourism destination for the enthusiastic traveller, and several luxury vessels have called at port up to December, showcasing the importance of Sri Lanka as an interesting stop by to explore a different culture and a different destination.

Sapphire Princess
Another luxury cruise liner which made her call was the gigantic Sapphire Princess belonging to the Princess Cruises shipping line, having the capacity of bearing 3,100 passengers on board. Originating from Bermuda, the Sapphire Princess started her journey from Southampton, England, on 31 October.  The visitors on board were given a wonderful welcome by the Tourist Information Centre officials of the SLTPB, as another passenger cruise welcome done by the SLTPB. She arrived in Sri Lanka on 2 December and was scheduled to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as her next stop.

Most of the passengers on board consist of European, British and Thai citizens, carrying 1,100 crew members and 952ft in length. The ground handling agent for the vessel was Lotus Destination Lanka Ltd., while the Sri Lankan shipping line was Malship (Ceylon) Ltd.

During their stay they visited Sri Lankan attractions such as Akurassa Tea Plantation, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Negombo, tea plantations, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy, Mount Lavinia beach, Colombo city attractions and shopping in Colombo.

This gigantic vessel which was built in 2004 has the ability to carry a tonnage of 115,875, has a wide array of plush modern facilities including eight restaurants, 15 bars/cafés, five pools, an aerobics studio, gym, beauty salon, sports court and many more. There are many modes of entertainment which can be experienced such as a cinema theatre, internet café, youth centre, teen centre, shops art gallery, Laundromat and a photo centre.

Cruise arrivals play a crucial part in the tourism sector as they bring in high spending tourists who love to have an enjoyable vacation worth their expenditure. This is one way of promoting the destination as an island paradise filled with new adventures and experiences, plus friendly, hospitable people and delectable authentic cuisine.

By encouraging more tourist arrivals through passenger cruises, in addition to flight arrivals, this will be an important exercise of taking Sri Lanka around the world as a number one destination for a perfect island getaway.

Marella Discovery
The Marella Discovery, which is a former Royal Caribbean Vision Class – Cruise Ship, now sailing for Marella Cruises called to port at the Colombo Harbour on 30 November, 2019, and left for Pulauwe, Indonesia on 3 December. Prior to 2016, she was operated by RCI as Splendor of the Seas.

She was given a rousing welcome by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) which also had a tourism information counter on board, to brief the tourists about their latest destination to explore, and the thrilling experience which they are bound to get.  They were able to gain a considerable amount of information and also about the major tourist attractions of Sri Lanka, by the colourful brochures, books, and maps handed over to them regarding Sri Lanka.  
The local shipping line was Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd., while the ground handling was managed by Aitken Spence Travel Ltd. The visitors were scheduled to take a tour of local attractions such as Pinnawala, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Negombo, tea plantations, Kandy Temple of the Tooth, Mount Lavinia beach, Colombo city attractions and shopping in Colombo.

The majestic vessel carried 1,500 passengers from all across the world, including Italy, Germany, Thailand and India. It has the total occupancy of 1,800 passengers, and carries 750 crew members on board.

The second in the line of vision class ships, she features a seven-storey lobby, rock climbing wall and a nine-hole miniature golf course. This gigantic beauty consists of 11 decks, 918 cabins, seven restaurants, seven bars, two pools and nine lifts.

In modes of entertainment, it includes a Broadway show lounge, an open air cinema, and a rock climbing wall which captures a bird’s eye view of the ship and the ocean. The five plush restaurants serve the best international cuisine on offer and it’s fully equipped with two pools, four whirlpools, Oceans gym, Oceans spa, beauty salon and jogging track and offers many modes of entertainment such as Broadway show lounge, live casino, Gamerzone, kids’ club and a live lounge with stage. Other facilities include shops, photo gallery, photo studio and a medical centre.

Mein Schiff 6
Mein Schiff 6, originating from Finland, made her inaugural call at the Port of Colombo on 21 November. She was given a warm reception by Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau (SLTPB) officials, complete with a traditional dance troupe which provided entertainment with a captivating performance. 
The visitors were able to gain a considerable knowledge of Sri Lanka and its most highlighted tourist attractions by the brochures and tourist maps given by the Tourist Information Centre officials of the SLTPB.

TUI Mein Schiff 6 is owned by TUI cruises which is a Germany based joint venture cruise company of TUI Group (British-German Travel and Tourism Corporation) and RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. – US passenger shipping company.)

Further to commemorate her maiden call, a plaque exchange was also carried out between the SL Ports Authority and the vessel’s command. She arrived from Mumbai, India, having a passenger capacity of 2,534, supported by a crew of 1,030. This massive vessel is 295 m in length, and equipped with an 8.25 m draft. She has modern, up to date facilities such as 1,250 staterooms, 15 decks with Diamond Suites, large family staterooms and three several suite categories as new additions. The ability to do sports and the wide variety of fine dining options is also another feature which adds up to its uniqueness.

The visitors showed a major interest in the scenic locations of Sri Lanka and the rich culture and heritage it has to offer, complete with the delectable Sri Lankan cuisine. Shipping Agency Services was the local representative for the vessel while the ground handling was done by Aitken Spence Travels.

Source:http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/Several-cruise-liners-call-at-port-during-November-and-December/27-693284

Marella cruises largest super luxury passenger vessel, Marella Discovery

Marella Discovery docked at the Colombo Harbour

Boosting the revival of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence Maritime facilitated Marella cruises sailing their largest super-luxury cruise ship, Marella Discovery of the Marella fleet, to the Port of Colombo.

Marella Discovery commenced its voyage from the Persian Gulf and cruised past Cochin to reach Colombo and continued to cruise towards South-East destinations after visiting Sri Lanka. Marella is the third-largest cruise line in the UK, with a fleet of six ships. Marella cruises is a division of TUI UK and Ireland; TUI Group is the world’s leading integrated tourism group operating in more than 100 destinations worldwide.

Marella Cruise line offers holidays around Europe, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asian destinations. Marella Discovery is approximately 264 m in length and 32 m wide having 902 state rooms with a capacity for up to 2,074 passengers.

The ship boasts many features such as an outdoor cinema, a rock-climbing wall, a mini-golf course, five-storey atrium and an indoor pool. Marella Cruises trademarks include a fantastic dining scene, a show lounge to rival the West End, and smart, contemporary interiors and a range of on board activities enabling a wonderful experience for passengers on board.

Aitken Spence Travels was the shore excursion partner in Sri Lanka. The company offered excursions for over 800 passengers covering many locations close to Colombo, low grown tea estates, historical sites, Madhu Ganga river safaris and tours across the city of Galle.

The excursions are designed to create memories in Sri Lanka through experiences with culture, cuisine, architecture, heritage and way of life. Aitken Spence Travels is the leading Destination Management Company (DMC) handling majority of the shore excursions of cruise ships that call over to Sri Lanka. The company is a joint venture between Aitken Spence PLC, a leading blue-chip conglomerate, and TUI.

Aitken Spence Maritime is a pioneer in the industry and was the first Sri Lankan company to undertake port efficiency enhancement management overseas with its entry into the African continent and subsequently the South Pacific. The company handles all maritime services – from shipping and cargo handling services, to liner agency, cruise vessel, port management and development, chartering services and maritime education.

Source:http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/Aitken-Spence-Maritime-and-Aitken-Spence-Travels-boost-tourism-through-Marella-cruises/27-692623