Eight tour operators including AMA Waterways and Discover Egypt have joined the Specialist Travel Association (Aito) alongside two agencies and two affilates.
As well as luxury river cruise line AMA Waterways and Egypt Specialist Discover Egypt, which is returning to Aito after around eight years, the other operators to sign up to the association are: Exsus Travel, Imaginative Traveller, Latin Routes, The Cultural Experience, The Travel Department, and Travel The Unknown, while new affiliates are international payment services provider FairFX and tourist board Visit Finland.
Oasis Travel in northern Ireland and Ocky White Travel in south Wales have both joined Aito Specialist Travel Agents, the association’s agent arm.
The expansion brings the number of operator members to 119; the number of specialist agents to 55 companies, with 81 branches, and affiliates to 69, which comprises 38 business partner affiliates and 31 tourist offices.
The news comes just ahead of the association’s annual overseas conference, which takes place in Ras Al Khaimah next week. The association was recently renamed The Specialist Travel Association, but has retained the Aito brand.
Kate Kenward, executive director of Aito, said: “It’s great to welcome eight new members, including returning member Discover Egypt and the graduation of Aito start-up, Travel The Unknown.
“We’re also delighted to add two important Business Affiliates to the Aito group and two new travel agents to our list of Aito Specialist Travel Agents. I am confident that they’ll benefit hugely from being a part of Aito and look forward to working closely with each of them over the coming months.”
The new operator members offer a range of product. Exsus Travel offers luxury tailormade holidays; Imaginative Traveller is known for its innovative trips including active holidays and wildlife experiences; Latin Routes has bespoke breaks including Latin America and Antarctica; The Cultural Experience is a battlefield, historical and cultural specialist; The Travel Department offers escorted tours and river cruises; while Travel The Unknown focuses on small group tours to remote locations.
Meanwhile, Oasis Travel is northern Ireland’s largest independent agency while Ocky White Travel has been operating in Haverfordwest in south Wales for more than 50 years.