ABOUT HERITAGE

Heritage Expediciones conducts second product development tour to Knuckles Mountain Range

The Heritage Expediciones team recently visited the Knuckles Mountain Range, a stunning World Heritage Site located about 55 kilometres from Kandy.

Their journey to Wild Glamping Knuckles was an adventure in itself, navigating a narrow, winding road from Rangala in a 4x4 vehicle.

Upon arrival, they were warmly welcomed with tea, setting the perfect tone for the glamping experience.

The following day, they embarked on a 14-kilometre trek to Corbet’s View, which took around 7 hours to complete.

The trek offered an incredible opportunity to disconnect from the digital world and explore Sri Lanka’s untouched wilderness.

Wild Glamping Knuckles provided the perfect setting for this immersive experience in nature.

This trip marked their second product development tour in 2024. It gave the team valuable hands-on experience with the adventurous experiences they offer to clients.

Heritage Expediciones Embarks on a Familiarisation Tour to Haputale

As a crucial step in their product development journey, the leadership at Heritage Expediciones Ltd., recently undertook a captivating familiarisation tour of Haputale, an emerging gem in the tourism landscape.

The burgeoning interest in this enchanting destination piqued their curiosity, as it remains a treasure trove waiting to be fully discovered. With its untouched beauty and unexplored allure, Haputale captivated their team’s attention, prompting the management to organise this insightful familiarisation trip.

“The goal was simple: to deepen our understanding and enrich the product knowledge of the team, ensuring that they can offer unparalleled experiences to their discerning travellers,” a spokesperson for Heritage Expediciones said.

Heritage Expediciones celebrates two decades of unwavering commitment to excellence

Heritage Expediciones celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, a milestone that symbolises two decades of their unwavering commitment to excellence and ground-breaking achievements in the travel industry.

Heritage Expediciones was established on 01 July 2003 and initially embarked on a journey to provide unique and immersive travel experiences to tourists. The company’s vision was to showcase the rich cultural heritage and natural wonders of Sri Lanka, offering travellers an opportunity to explore the island in a truly authentic way.

The founder of Heritage Expediciones, George David began his journey with 30 years of experience in the travel industry and a small team of passionate individuals. Their dedication and commitment to excellence soon gained recognition, and the company rapidly expanded its operations.

What started as a small venture with a handful of employees has now grown into a formidable organisation with a global footprint. From its humble beginnings, the company has consistently pursued excellence and set new standards for quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Today, Heritage Expediciones boasts a high number of employees which has helped establish itself as a prominent player in the inbound tourism sector.

As the calendar flips to July, the significance of this month becomes even more apparent for Heritage Expediciones. The 20th anniversary is not only a celebration of their success but also a testament to the trust and loyalty bestowed upon them by their overseas partners.

After a tumultuous period of the pandemic and the economic crisis, Heritage Expediciones Ltd has returned to the travel industry by overcoming numerous challenges and adapting to the new normal. Heritage Expediciones is ready to embark on a new chapter of success and growth with its 20th anniversary this year.

“We are extremely proud to celebrate our 20th anniversary. This milestone is a testament to the effort, dedication, and passion of our talented team and the unwavering support of our valued customers and partners,” said Heritage Expediciones CEO George David.

“Over the past two decades, we have embraced the challenges, embraced the change, and consistently strived to push boundaries and set new benchmarks. This anniversary is a reflection of our commitment to excellence and our drive to continue providing tailor-made experiences for the next 20 years and beyond.”

As one of the leading tour operators in Sri Lanka, Heritage Expediciones acknowledges the value of its employees, who have been the driving force behind the company’s success.

In an era where corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly important, Heritage Expediciones is dedicated to making a positive impact on society. Going above and beyond their role, Heritage Expediciones has taken significant strides in addressing crucial issues such as healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation.

The efforts of Heritage Expediciones have not gone unnoticed. The company has received numerous accolades and recognition for their outstanding initiatives and performance. Their commitment to social responsibility has garnered the admiration of customers and industry peers alike, positioning Heritage Expediciones as a leader in responsible tourism.

As the demand for socially conscious businesses continues to grow, Heritage Expediciones serves as an inspiration for other companies to step up and make a difference in the communities they operate in. By prioritising CSR initiatives, Heritage Expediciones is proving that profit and purpose can go hand in hand, highlighting the company’s journey and future aspirations, and setting a new standard for the tourism industry.

Looking ahead, Heritage Expediciones remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of the industry, embracing new challenges, and leading the way to sustain Sri Lanka’s economy.

It reflects on the past with pride and embraces the future with confidence. The company remains committed to its core values of integrity, ensuring that it will continue to be a trusted partner and a driving force in the tour industry for many years to come.

As Heritage Expediciones reaches this remarkable milestone, they invite travellers from around the world to embark on a journey of discovery with them. Experience the magic of Sri Lanka through the lens of a company that has dedicated two decades to perfecting the art of travel. Join them on this momentous occasion as they celebrate 20 years of excellence and set their sights on a future filled with new horizons, endless possibilities, and unforgettable adventures.

Heritage Expediciones partners Eco Spindles to manage plastic waste disposal

Heritage Expediciones Ltd., who recently received the accreditation as a Travelife Certified Level Tour Operator is proud to announce its collaboration with Eco Spindles Ltd., the largest plastic recycler in Sri Lanka specialised in recycling PET plastic.

Eco Spindles is at the helm of the nation’s recycling revolution addressing the dire problem of plastic pollution. The company’s well-established island-wide collection network ensures over 250 metric tons of PET plastic waste is collected monthly and transformed through state-of-the-art machinery into mono filaments for brushes and polyester yarn for fabric manufacturers worldwide.

Eco Spindles has initiated a program for Heritage Expediciones to manage the plastic waste disposal collected mainly by the chauffeurs during their tours. A waste plastic bottle collection bin has been placed within the office premises of Heritage Expediciones to facilitate the collection of waste where Eko Wave, one of Eco Spindles’ MRF (Material Recovery Facility), will collect once the bin is filled. This action has served as a corrective measure in the company’s sustainability drive. “Our collection will certainly not be at a large commercial level but we believe that our minute effort will certainly assist to protect our environment,” stated Heritage Expediciones Ltd. Sustainability Co-ordinator Dhanushka.

As a responsible partner in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, Heritage Expediciones will continue its dedication and commitment to sustainability as it will reach its 20th year as a Destination Management Company shortly.

Heritage Expediciones secures Travelife Certified status on sustainability

The Travelife for Tour Operators Certification Committee has decided positively regarding the sustainability certification of Heritage Expediciones on the basis of the Travelife Certified standard for tour operators.

Reaching the Travelife Certified status means that the company is compliant with over 200 criteria concerning sustainability in a tour operator’s office management, product range, international business partners and customer information.

The Travelife standard has integrated the EMAS III environmental management and tourism sector specific requirements, the ISO 26000 Social Responsibility guidance and themes, the Global Reporting Initiative Tour operator sector supplement, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Industry Criteria.

Heritage Expediciones is looking forward to inspiring other companies from Sri Lanka to embrace sustainability and contribute to a more sustainable future of the tourism and travel industry. All management and performance requirements were met and exceeded in order for Heritage Expediciones to earn this title of Travelife Certified.

A spokesperson for Heritage Expediciones said: “It was a team effort and the company appreciates the effort put in by everybody. We reached the Partner Level in October 2019 and reaching the Certified Level is for a further two-year period. We faced many obstacles along the way the main being the COVID-19 pandemic followed by the economic crisis hence the Travelife Certified status achievement is significant.”

Sri Lanka Tourism Lures Digital Nomads

Sri Lanka was recently recognised as one of the top destinations for Digital Nomads, emerging second in Club Med’s index of the best places and countries around the world to become a Digital Nomad. Club Med collected and assessed data in line with the growing demand for the nomadic lifestyles which enables travellers to escape to picturesque locations where they can work remotely from. This recognition comes just as Sri Lanka Tourism is charting a new path and offers yet another avenue to market the island in a bid to boost tourism. Digital Nomads are a growing segment within the tourism industry, of people who choose to embrace a location and enjoy a technology driven lifestyle which enables them to travel and work remotely, anywhere in the world.

“Sri Lanka was ranked so highly because of its comparatively low living costs, average temperatures of 30°C along with ample activities and landmarks for visitors to enjoy, and a beautiful working backdrop of lush green mountains, coral reefs and powdery sand, which combines to offer a great remote working experience”, noted Club Med, allocating Sri Lanka a score of 238 out of 320. This emerging segment of Digital Nomads, travel independently, using information researched online through organic sources. The free and independent nature of their travels combined with their long travel stay patterns in one destination makes this segment a lucrative market to pursue.

Digital nomadism is the ultimate work-travel lifestyle many Digital Nomads aspire to, which allows them to explore the exciting destinations while working remotely, a lifestyle that is increasingly becoming the ‘new normal’.” Sri Lanka is poised to be as the perfect post pandemic destination with its wide-open spaces and nature-based attractions. After experiencing prolonged lockdowns and travel restrictions, people are embracing the ‘work from anywhere’ concept with the requirements being a picturesque setting, cultural experiences, adventure and good wifi connection”, said Ms.Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism.

Sri Lanka is positioned well to promote the “work from your own tropical paradise’ concept and Sri Lanka Tourism recognising this is facilitating the expansion of the Digital Nomad market as part of its sustainable strategies. This strategy has received prominence globally with inclusions in listings such as the Club Med listing. Sri Lanka Tourism is currently working on securing the necessary framework to support the expansion of this market and is looking at the possibility of long-term visas for Digital Nomads which is essential to secure this segment.

The positive impact this segment of independent long-stay travellers will have on industry stakeholders is tremendous. With the multitude of immersive experiences, the destination has on offer, the SME segment will also experience growth by providing support services and curated experiences to this high yielding emerging market. Digital Nomads not being sensitive to seasonal travel is also an added advantage to boost off-season tourism with the benefit of digital content generated by this segment pushing promotions for Sri Lanka Tourism organically.

SL offers quarantine-free entry for fully-vaccinated tourists

• Two weeks prior to arrival date travellers are expected to receive both vaccine doses for COVID-19
• Still need to spend 24 hours at a Safe and Secure (Tier 1) hotel until a negative on-arrival PCR result produced

Sri Lanka has further eased restrictions for tourists by allowing quarantine-free entry for those fully-vaccinated, a step that would provide the much required impetus for the struggling industry.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) announced that a decision has been made to allow international travellers, who have received both vaccine doses for COVID-19 two weeks before the arrival date, to enter the nation without having to undergo quarantine. The requirement of spending 24 hours at a Safe and Secure (Tier 1) hotel until a negative on-arrival PCR result is produced and undergoing a second PCR on the seventh day remain unchanged.

Travellers are still required to produce a negative PCR test report 72 hours prior to boarding the flight, as per the standard procedure. They would also have to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) via the Sri Lanka Tourism website and purchase a mandatory visitor COVID Insurance coverage costing US $ 12, covering a period of 30 days and a US $ 50,000 cover.

It is mandatory for the fully-vaccinated travellers to carry their original vaccine certificate card and if the certification is not in English, an authorised translation of their vaccine certificate must be produced along with the original certificate, the SLTDA said. Non-vaccinated children under 18 are able to undergo an on-arrival PCR test along with their parents and upon obtaining a negative test result will be permitted to travel within the island without quarantine when accompanied by a fully-vaccinated parent or guardian. Children under two will not be subject to a PCR test, unless their parent or guardian tests positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers, the series of restrictions imposed are not eased as yet. Such travellers will have to follow the standard procedure of quarantining in a Safe and Secure Tier 1 hotel up to 14 days, depending on the vaccination status and the duration of stay. For those with a travel history (including transit) in the last 14 days to India, Vietnam, South America, South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia, will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka until further notice.

Commenting on the restrictions in place, SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando pointed out that the measures have helped curb the spread of the pandemic while preventing new variants from entering the island. “With the success of the national vaccination rollout programme, we are ready to commence operations as usual for fully-vaccinated arrivals and the tourism industry is well prepared to welcome our international travellers while ensuring the safety and security of our communities,” she said.

Bloomberg boost for Sigiriya with listing as one of new Seven Wonders of the World

Sustaining its brand visibility and universal appeal on a global platform, Sri Lanka Tourism is once again in the spotlight with the recent recognition by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Sri Lanka Tourism said in a statement that the Sigiriya Rock Fortress was listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, making Sri Lanka the only Asian country to make it onto the list along with six other iconic sites appealing to the new age traveller with a thirst for adventure.

These marvels include archaeological and natural treasures spanning far wider than the ancient Greek world and catering to all types of modern explorers.

Dating back to King Kashyapa in the fifth century A.D., Sigiriya is the “perfect amalgam of human-made treasure and natural wonder”, enthuses Bloomberg. Nicknamed Lion Rock – a reference to the paws sculpted into the base of the 660 ft. tall stone – it includes elaborate cisterns and gardens, frescoed caves, and a winding stairway to the crowning citadel.

Sri Lanka Tourism has strategically embarked on developing Sigiriya, a World Heritage site, into a sustainable destination under the National Sustainable Destination Certification (NSDC) initiative. Sustainable tourism is essential to protect natural, cultural, and environmental resources which are critical for the wellbeing of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. If these valuable resources are not sustained, Sri Lanka could see dwindling tourist numbers in the future.

In keeping with this initiative, single-use plastic has been recently banned in Sri Lanka. While sustaining our resources, this strategy will also provide locals more opportunities to practice ancient arts and crafts to cater to demand for sustainable materials.

Sri Lanka Tourism said particularly post-COVID 19, there will be an emergence of the conscious traveller with demands for all aspects of their travel to be sustainable with minimum travel footprint.

With foresight on global tourism moving towards sustainable growth, Sri Lanka Tourism initiated the National Sustainable Tourism Certification (NSTC) for the accommodation sector. Furthermore, Sri Lanka Tourism continues to study the product and services offered by their regional rivals and differentiate the Sri Lankan Tourism offering while highlighting the multitude of immersive experiences available to explore on the island.

Sri Lanka Tourism recognises that in order to sustain livelihoods dependent on the tourism industry, it is imperative that in addition to regulations, all stakeholders are educated and provided with the necessary tools to develop sustainably. With the assistance of international partner agencies, this initiative is currently in progress with several ongoing pilot projects.

Additionally, the Authority is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which further strengthens the islands position as a sustainable destination. Sustainable tourism is no longer an option, it is a crucial element which is essential to the development of the country’s tourism industry.

Sri Lanka Tourism harnesses technology to enhance the traveler experience

The advent of technology has seemingly transformed the travel and tourism industry - and this evolution was even more pronounced during the current pandemic. Sri Lanka Tourism adopted a proactive approach to harness the benefits of technology into its offering to remain competitive in the digital era. Sri Lanka’s apex tourism body is integrating technology into its operational infrastructure and has invested in value-adding IT initiatives to enhance quality of services, human resources and the traveler experience.

Championing the National Policy priority to improve the digital footprint, Sri Lanka Tourism appointed eMarketingEye as the digital marketing agency to manage social media and digital marketing campaigns. Digitalization is focused on 6 major pillars being Heritage, Scenic Locations, Adventure Activities, Wildlife and Nature, Sri Lanka cuisine and Wellness. For the period January 2020 to April 2021 organic post reach has increased by 452% while 290 million impressions were created with a record 12 million views across all social media channels.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Mobile Travel App version 2.0, supported by the World Bank and ADB under the guidance of ICTA will be launched to meet COVID-19 health protocols and will include nearly 5000 lesser known sites, Google Maps, ticket purchases to tourist sites, ability to rate establishments, a customer experience management system, an emergency button to share location with the Tourist Police as well as a traveler feedback survey.

“Featured on the Travel App will be approximately 5000 off the beaten track locations providing diverse experiences for the international and domestic traveller. This initiative was also carried out to support sustainable tourism and SME’s in order to build community-based tourism. As part of the strategic initiative the Sri Lanka Tourism (srilanka.travel) and SLTDA official websites will also be revamped to reflect the enhanced experience offered to our visitors. The ADB is currently assisting Sri Lanka Tourism with the content creation for the official Mobile Travel App and have invited those interested to express their interest” said Ms.Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism at the recently concluded Investor Forum 2021.

As part of the initiative to showcase Sri Lanka and keep the dream alive, the Kandy Perahera in 2020 was telecast live for the first time in Thailand in the local language, with the support of Missions in Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassy in Sri Lanka.

Sustaining interest on the island, live streaming of wildlife with the ‘Couch Safari’ initiative was followed by guests around the world and received an overwhelming response with a reach of 350,000 out of which at least 40% were international viewers. Wildlife at Yala, Minneriya, Kaudulla and Uda Walawe attracted thousands of viewers with the live streaming concept of ‘stay home today and travel tomorrow’. The campaign was launched on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. Direct display advertising campaigns were carried out using Google Display Network and Trip Advisor. Couch Safari was advertised using both video and display advertisements on key travel, wildlife, destination websites and YouTube Channels. Overall, the campaign generated over 22 million impressions, over 1.7 million video views and generated over 40,000 clicks.

Enhancing the appeal of the sector and to ensure hotel school curriculum continued uninterrupted during the mobility restrictions due to the pandemic, SLITHM launched a novel initiative and moved all programmes to an online platform.

Sri Lanka Tourism is entering a new age of technology-backed systems and offerings to cater to the post Covid traveler who will seek more contactless and unconventional forms of travel such as exploring the ‘Work from Anywhere’ concept. Sri Lanka is perfectly poised to embrace the digital nomad with its ‘work from your own tropical paradise’ strategy which has gained attention in many global listings thus far.

Sri Lanka tourism to reposition with focus on sustainability

• SLTDA says essential for SL to focus on environment to generate traffic
• Points out travellers have become increasingly conscious of their carbon footprint
• Sustainable destination effort to kick off with Sigiriya
• Mega campaign on sustainable tourism to be launched

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
Sri Lanka’s struggling tourism sector is gearing up to tread on the sustainability and eco-friendly path to generate traffic, an effort taken up by the authorities to reposition the island nation as the pandemic eases.

With sustainability and eco-friendly tourism practices becoming increasingly popular across the world, as the effects of climate change can be very much felt, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) yesterday said measures have already been rolled out to allow the industry to reap benefits from this new focus.

“Sustainability is no longer even an option. Environment sustainability or sustainability in a border sense, is becoming absolutely necessary. Travellers are becoming more conscious even of their footprint and it is essential for destinations like Sri Lanka to focus on the environment,” said Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando while addressing a webinar yesterday that was themed on reviving tourism.

To steer the industry in that direction, Fernando shared that tourism projects would need to adopt green building concepts, which would be made mandatory from January 2022.

Sri Lanka has already commenced the initiatives to obtain accreditation from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), a certification that would affirm the nation’s compliance with universal criteria for sustainable tourism.

Fernando shared that the plans are afoot to ban all hotels across the island using single-use plastics since the country’s ban in this regard is not fully implemented.

The eco-friendly initiative will kick off with Sigiriya being transformed into a sustainable destination, making it the first-of-its-kind in the island nation. The tourism hotspot will be installed with solar panels and water fountains, amongst others, Fernando said.

“We are moving into sustainability technology and we are already implementing a shift towards delivering experiences that complement this new focus. Sri Lanka is ready for this,” shared Fernando.

Furthermore, Fernando shared that a mega campaign on embracing sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives was to be launched earlier this month. However, the X-Press Pearl incident, which has led to a major marine disaster, put the effort on hold

Keep the Sri Lankan Holiday Dream Alive

With the mission to popularize the Safe & Secure Bio Travel Bubble Process and rich tourism product diversity available to offer, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLTPB) welcomed popular Food Travel YouTube channel “Chopstick Travel” (Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/ToastWithJim) from 16th April 2021 to 9th May 2021) . Destination Sri Lanka will be featured in Chopstick Travel’s latest travel episodes which will be premiered on Sunday 13 th June 2021.

( 14 June 2021 )Read more.. (srilanka.travel article)

Heritage Expediciones wins Travelife Partner sustainability award

Heritage Expediciones Sri Lanka received the Travelife Partner award in recognition of their long-term efforts and frontrunner position regarding sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Heritage Expediciones complies with more than 100 criteria related to operators’ office management, product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife Standard covers the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and labour relations, and is formally recognised as being in full compliance with the UN-supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Heritage Expediciones is the fifth company in Sri Lanka to have achieved the Travelife Partner award.

Travelife for Tour Operators Manager Naut Kusters said, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operators sector is gaining momentum. The award won by frontrunner Heritage Expediciones will inspire other companies in Sri Lanka to follow the same path.”

Established with the support of the European Commission, Travelife is the leading international sustainability certification for the travel sector. More than 35 national travel associations promotes the scheme to their members, including the British Travel Association ABTA and the Pacific Asian Travel Association (PATA). Since 2012, more than 600 Asian companies have been trained in CSR with the support of the Dutch Government’s CBI program. They now work step by-step towards more sustainable operations.

Travelife is a certification system dedicated to achieving sustainable practices within the tourism industry. It provides companies with realistic sustainability goals, tools and solutions to implement positive changes within their businesses and supply chains. Travelife is managed by the UK Travel Association ABTA and by ECEAT Projects, a not-for-profit organisation based in the Netherlands.

Travelife has two key focuses: Tour operators and travel agents. The system provides online training and practical tools for sustainability management and certification. These are suitable for tour operators and travel agencies of any size and cover all management aspects of the travel business including office operations, the supply chain, destinations and consumers. Upon submitting a report in compliance with the Travelife standard (based on an independent onsite audit), the company can obtain the ‘Travelife Certified’ status.

The Travelife Standard for tour operators and travel agencies is based upon Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including labour conditions, human rights, environment, biodiversity and fair business practices. The management requirements are compatible with EMAS and ISO 14001. The system is supported by more than 35 national travel associations to further its implementation among members.

YALA NATIONAL PARK is among the World’s Best National Parks

Ranked by Men’s Journal [New York - USA]

Yala National Park tends to really fly under the radar, but it’s one of the world’s most diverse national parks,” says Yogerst. Located on the island’s south coast, it covers over 320,000 acres of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, and lagoons. Originally a hunting ground for the British elite, it was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900; now it’s home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species. “It’s primarily known for wildlife, especially leopards and elephants,” says Yogerst. “But the park also has terrific beaches, ancient rock temples that are still active places of worship, and a choice of lodges or camping for overnight stays. There aren’t many places on the planet where you can safari drive in the morning and surf in the afternoon.”

Men's Journal is a monthly men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and gear. It was founded in 1992.

Heritage Expediciones staff Travelife Sustainability certified

Many staff members of Heritage Expediciones have qualified in the online examinations on the Travelife website. They were felicitated by the management on their achievements recently. Here the team members with the entire staff of Heritage Expediciones

Friday, 21 June 2019

VISA FEE EXEMPTION

48 countries have been exempted with effect 01st August 2019 for the next 6 months from the mandatory Visa fee payment of USD 35 when obtaining a Visa to Sri Lanka.
Despite this exemption it is compulsory to have ETA approval.
The 48 countries exempted are: Austria; Australia; Belgium; Bulgaria; Canada; Cambodia; China; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; India; Indonesia; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russia; Singapore; South Korea; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Thailand; Ukraine; the United Kingdom; and the United States of America.

01, August 2019

Heritage Expediciones facilitates expertise on sustainability for tour operators

Heritage Expediciones recently conducted a workshop on Sustainability for Tour Operators. The sessions were conducted by Travel Life Sri Lanka Country Manager Ajantha Palihawadana.

The event was a sought-after learning program on inbound tourism in Sri Lanka, to manage and improve social and environmental impacts by complying with internationally recognised sustainability criteria, to support tour operators on their road to sustainability. This certification, which is accepted by 18 European associations, is also pledged recognised by lead players in the tour operator industry, including Thomas Cook, COSMOS, appollo and KUONI. It is also the only scheme active in Asia for tour operators, and is supported by Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

The certification also boosts the market image of a tour operator, says Palihawadana, who also points out that it fills a much-felt void in the sector. "Although sustainability certification is commonly heard of within the hotel industry, it is something novel to Sri Lankan tour operator industry."

Nepal and Bhutan have already experienced this, and certification is also operative in several South East Asian countries including Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. "Thailand’s experience is set as the guideline to formulate our criteria to obtain Travel Life Certification for tour operators and will be looking at ten main areas of sustainability management, internal management of social policy and human rights, internal environmental management, partner agencies, transport, accommodation, sustainable excursions, tour leaders, local representatives and guides, destinations and customer communication and protection.

Friday, 14 June 2019

Colombo named ‘must-photograph’ travel destination of 2019

The Colombo city has been named the ‘must-photograph’ travel destination of 2019, in a study.

Research of more than 1.3 million social media posts found the Asian city is the location travellers most want to take a picture of, followed by Yokohama in Japan and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

The Isle of Harris in Scotland also made the list, along with Baden-Baden in Germany’s Black Forest. Commissioned by Huawei to celebrate the launch of its new P Smart 2019 device, the research also uncovered a new-found appetite among young Brits for lesser-known destinations.

Just under half of 18-25 year olds now look for places their friends haven’t been, with more than a third saying they want to be the first to find new travel hotspots, take the photo and stick it online.

14th January, June 2019

BEST COUNTRY TO VISIT in 2019

Sri Lanka is decidedly having its moment in the equatorial sun and change is coming swiftly. Already notable to intrepid travellers for its mix of religions and cultures, its timeless temples, its rich and accessible wildlife, its growing surf scene and its people who defy all odds by their welcome and friendliness after decades of civil conflict, this is a country revived. There’s now more than ever for families, adrenaline junkies, eco-tourists, wellness seekers and foodies of all budgets. Even the north and east, including areas previously off limits, difficult to reach or lacking in services, deliver new discoveries.

January 2019

Sri Lanka voted by travel influencers as top destination in Asia for 2019

A panel consisting of five of the world’s top travel influencers and bloggers has voted Sri Lanka as the top emerging Asian travel destination for 2019.
The awards were published last week on the site TravelLemming.com, which focuses on emerging and off-the-beaten path travel spots around the globe.
Winners for the Asian awards were selected by an expert panel consisting of five of the best renowned travel bloggers and influencers in the world, with a combined following on social media of over 750,000.In describing why Sri Lanka won, the article reads: “Sri Lanka has been poised on the edge of tourism popularity for a few years now, and 2019 might finally be the year it pops.
In fact, it was just named the #1 country in the world to travel to in 2019 by Lonely Planet. And, honestly, it’s hard to disagree with that assessment. From dreamy surf coasts to quiet jungle retreats, to incredible wildlife and history, Sri Lanka has all the makings of one of the greatest travel destinations on the planet.”
One of the judges, Meg Jerrard of the popular travel blog Mapping Megan, is quoted as saying: “Sri Lanka is a mesmerising and magical place with something for everyone, and enough diversity to keep a trip interesting. It has stunning beaches, is a haven for budget travellers, has flavourful food, and there are oodles of heritage, wildlife, and incredible landscapes just waiting to be hiked.”
Other judges on the panel included popular gay travel bloggers Nomadic Boys, hipster travel star Travels of Adam, the San Diego-based Instagram star Hackerette, and the acclaimed travel blogger Otts World.
Travel Lemming CEO Nate Hake said: “One of the biggest trends in travel these days is the desire of tourists to get off the beaten path. Our six winning destinations in Asia are all great options for wonderful places to explore without the crowds!”
The site TravelLemming.com is dedicated to the promotion of travel to emerging travel destinations. The name lemming derives from the Scandinavian rodent, which is rumoured (falsely) to engage in such mindless group behaviour that it will literally follow fellow lemmings of a cliff to death. Travel Lemming encourages travellers to think beyond the popular destinations and to forge their own path.
Travel Lemming was started by its founder Nate Hake, an American traveler from Denver, Colorado who is most famous for visiting 43 countries in a single year.

Friday, 28 December 2018

Heritage Expediciones: Unravelling the Best of 15 Years

Heritage Expediciones, a destination management company, which was founded in 2003, by Mr. George David, has come through a 15 year journey by creating memorable experiencesto their clientele.Unravelling the best of 15 years, they held their anniversary celebrations at Waters Edge on 29th June 2018, celebrating with their national and chauffeur guides, staff and well wishers who have supported them along their journey.
On this occasion, they also launched their new interactive website that is tailor made to their clientele, to customize a trip around Sri Lanka. This website allows the client to have a virtual run of their tour.The success of this milestone achieved by Heritage Expediciones, is their experienced and dedicated team, who has built the Heritage family with the enthusiasm to reach greater heights.

29th Friday, June 2018