Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest adventure travel company and a champion of responsible tourism, is placing a significant bet on Sri Lanka. Chairman and Co-Founder Darrell Wade’s recent visit underscores the island nation’s importance in their 2030 strategy for sustainable growth.
Sri Lanka’s allure for Intrepid is evident in the company’s phenomenal growth there. Their Sri Lankan business has skyrocketed by over 375% in 2024, with projections to exceed 4,500 customers served through Intrepid Colombo. This surpasses even the pre-pandemic peak of 3,500 customers achieved in 2019. Looking ahead, Intrepid Colombo ambitiously plans to bring over 15,000 travelers to Sri Lanka by 2030, according to Poornaka Delpachitra, Country General Manager.
The company’s commitment extends beyond tourism numbers. Intrepid Colombo, already one of their largest offices globally, currently employs over 240 staff and utilizes the services of 30 local trip leaders. Intrepid offers 11 unique tours across Sri Lanka, catering to travelers seeking responsible exploration. In 2023 alone, they facilitated conscious travel experiences for 1,200 visitors.
Wade himself emphasized Sri Lanka’s crucial role in their 2030 vision. This ambitious strategy goes beyond Sri Lanka, aiming to double their global customer base to 600,000 (up from 320,000 in 2023), achieve revenue of $1.3 billion (AUD $621M in 2023), and dedicate 1% of their revenue to sustainability initiatives. Intrepid also plans to expand its vertical integration by venturing into areas like accommodation and strengthening its presence in key markets like Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s potential for responsible tourism aligns perfectly with Intrepid’s core values. With its commitment to sustainability and its growing popularity amongst Intrepid’s clientele, Sri Lanka is poised to become a significant player in the company’s ambitious journey towards 2030.