Sri Lanka Strengthens Its Presence in the Hungarian Travel Market as Aitken Spence Travels Makes Its Budapest Debut
Aitken Spence Travels, one of Sri Lanka’s leading destination management companies, was introduced to the Hungarian travel industry at an event organised by HotelPremio Group and supported by Turkish Airlines.
On 29 October 2026, Aitken Spence Travels held its first introductory event in Hungary, organised by HotelPremio Group PR. The event took place in the distinctive Cinema Room at Madame Tussauds Budapest, featuring a Caribbean-inspired atmosphere and an LED wall. Around 40 industry professionals attended, primarily representatives of travel agencies, alongside members of the MICE sector, to learn more about Sri Lanka’s tourism offering and the company’s services.
The event marked an important first milestone in a new professional partnership: since August 2026, HotelPremio Group has represented Aitken Spence Travels in Hungary, providing a direct point of contact between the Hungarian travel trade and the Sri Lankan service provider.
A direct connection to Sri Lanka’s tourism offering
The professional programme opened with a presentation by Turkish Airlines. Eszter Sontra, the airline’s Marketing and Sales Manager, introduced its fleet, latest flight options and opportunities for corporate and business partnerships. As the event sponsor, Turkish Airlines also highlighted the importance of travel connections between the two destinations.
This was followed by a presentation by Ahamed Anver, Deputy Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels, who showcased Sri Lanka’s diverse tourism offering. His presentation highlighted the island’s beautiful beaches, rich cultural heritage, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, distinctive cuisine and wide range of leisure opportunities.
Sri Lanka offers a combination of exotic beach holidays, cultural discoveries, nature-based experiences and active adventures, making it an attractive destination for independent travellers, organised groups and visitors seeking unique experiences. Aitken Spence Travels’ local expertise and extensive partner network can also create new opportunities for Hungarian travel agencies to develop tailor-made travel programmes.
Industry networking, authentic flavours and a prize draw
The presentations were followed by a quiz-based prize draw, giving participants the chance to win a trip to Sri Lanka thanks to prizes offered by Turkish Airlines and Aitken Spence Travels.
Authentic cuisine added another memorable element to the event. Thanks to Rotigami, guests had the opportunity to taste different varieties of roti, one of the characteristic dishes of Sri Lankan cuisine. The dishes were prepared by Laura Metz, allowing participants to discover a little more of the island’s culture not only through presentations, but also through its flavours.
The event aimed to give members of the Hungarian travel industry the opportunity to meet Aitken Spence Travels in person and establish direct contacts for future cooperation.
The role of HotelPremio Group
As the Hungarian representative of Aitken Spence Travels, and through its local partner in Poland, HotelPremio PR has been supporting the development of local industry relationships, coordinating partner enquiries and promoting travel opportunities to Sri Lanka in both markets since the summer of 2026.
The 29 October event was an important first step towards building a long-term partnership and creating opportunities for Sri Lanka to gain even greater visibility in the offerings of Hungarian travel agencies.