Asian – Dispatch

Sri Lanka has emphatically stamped its mark on the regional tourism landscape, securing two of the most prestigious Visitors’ Choice Awards for Leading MICE Destination and Leading Wellness Destination at the 9th South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025. 

The event held at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo on Saturday, celebrated the pinnacle of South Asia’s hospitality and travel industry.

The dual accolades highlight Sri Lanka’s growing prominence as a premier destination for both lucrative business travel – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) – and the rapidly expanding wellness tourism sector. 

These awards, determined by global travellers, serve as a powerful endorsement of the country’s diverse offerings and service excellence.

Sri Lankan companies and industry leaders were also recognised across a wide array of categories, reflecting the depth and quality of the local tourism sector.

Sri Lanka celebrated several key wins, with Aitken Spence Travels named Leading Travel Agent – Inbound, and Hayleys Travels Pvt Ltd recognized as Leading Travel Agent – Outbound. The Shangri-La Colombo secured the title of Leading Luxury Hotel, while Heritance Ayurveda was honoured as Leading Wellness & Spa Hotel/Resort. SriLankan Airlines also achieved recognition as the Leading International Airline.

In a tribute to visionary leadership, Deshamanya D. Harry S. Jayawardena, Chairman Emeritus of Aitken Spence PLC, was honoured with the SATA – Faces of South Asia award for his lifelong contributions to the industry. Additionally, Kamal Munasinghe of the host hotel, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, was named one of South Asia’s Best General Managers.

The SATA 2025 event brought together industry stalwarts from Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, honouring 53 Gold Award winners and 113 Silver Award winners. While Sri Lanka celebrated its victories, other nations were also recognized in the Visitors’ Choice categories, with the Maldives named the Leading Adventure Destination and Bhutan winning Leading Heritage Destination.

Source: Daily Mirror