Sri Lanka to make fresh effort attract more tourists from Russia and Ukraine
Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are drawing up a place to make a fresh effort to attract more tourists from Russia and Ukraine. A top-level industry delegation is expected to visit the two countries as part of the new promotional initiative.
Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga is to lead the six-member delegation, which is planning to hold bilateral talks with travel trade and potential investors in Moscow, followed by a similar engagement in Ukraine, according to the Daily FT.
The news report has further stated that the Minister will be accompanied by Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Vice Chairman Rajiv Sooriyaarachchi, Tourism Ministry Additional Secretary (Aviation) Sunil Gunawardena, Tourism Advisory Committee Member Nimesh Herath and Tourism Ministry Media Secretary Pradeep Kumara.
Industry sources have been quoted as telling the Daily FT that the delegation will also participate in a travel and trade show in Moscow while holding discussions with Russia’s Aeroflot. Aeroflot has planned to operate twice weekly direct flights to Colombo.
OSL take:
Russia and the Ukraine have become leading tourist source markets for Sri Lanka with many tour groups from the two countries arriving in the island since it reopened its borders earlier this year. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is currently recording a steady growth in tourist arrivals while international airlines have also increased flights operated to the island. Sri Lanka has become a popular post Covid travel destination since the country’s airports have received the internationally recognised safety and hygiene certifications along with the island being listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications/programmes. All this has increased the business potential of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore the growing opportunities.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/02092021/Z_1 |