Operators Esxus Travel, Discover Egypt, Imaginative Traveller, The Cultural Experience, The Travel Department and Travel The Unknown have all joined the association.

Its two new affiliates are payment services provider FairFX and Finnish tourist board, Visit Finland.

Aito’s two new specialist agent members, meanwhile, are Northern Ireland’s Oasis Travel and Wales’s Ocky White Travel.

The announcements come ahead of the Aito conference in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, over November 22-25.

Kate Kenward, Aito executive director, 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’m confident they’ll benefit hugely from being part of Aito and look forward to working closely with each of them over the coming months.”

Aito recently announced it would reposition itself The Specialist Travel Association, while retaining the Aito brand.