The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Celebrates 100,000 Russian Tourist Arrivals at the Bandaranaike International Airport
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, in collaboration with the Airport and Aviation Services, organised a special ceremony to felicitate 100,000 Russian tourist arrivals through direct flights. The grand welcome was held at the BIA on 17th July 2023 where the passengers and crew arrived by Aeroflot flight from Moscow. A total of 100,298 Russian tourists have travelled to Sri Lanka via Aeroflot, Azur Air and Redwings since 10th October 2022 and as of July 2023, Russia has become the second highest source market for Sri Lanka. The Russian visitors and dignatories were given a warm welcome by the Tourism Information Centre officials of SLTPB and were escorted to the Lotus lounge with a special cultural performance by the colourful Kandyan dance troupe, which was highly enjoyed by the Russian tourists and crew alike.
The distinguished guests at this occasion included H.E Levan. Dzhagaryan, the Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. G.A Chandrasiri, Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services, Mr. Thisum Jayasuriya, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Mr. Udayanga Weeratunga, the Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia along with Mr.Thilak Weerasinghe , (LSR) , Mr. Rushan Fruard , (Exotic Holidays International), and Mr. Kamal Deshapriya (Ceylon My Dream) who contributed as Industry stakeholders for the direct flight operations. Russian Captain Ermolaev Vladmir Vlaimirovich and the crew of Aeroflot, together with Tourism and Aviation officials and Media also attended this event held at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Mr. G.A Chandrasiri , the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services made a welcome speech and noted that with the increase in Russian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, it conveyed that the hospitality, culture, and the traditional ways of the Sri Lankan people were accepted by Russians. He thanked all the Tourism and Aviation officials, and major Industry stakeholders who supported him in this endeavour. Mr. Thisum Jayasuriya , Chairman of the SLCB also spoke on the milestone, noting that Sri Lanka can now see a positive and remarkable change in the influx of Russian tourist arrivals on a daily basis. The Russian Captain, Ermolaev Vladmir Vlaimirovich, also expressed his thanks and gratitude to the hospitality shown by the Sri Lankan people and paid a glowing tribute to Sri Lanka as a key travel destination for Russian tourists, as he fondly recalled his own experiences as a tourist in Sri Lanka. The arrival of 100,000 Russian tourists is seen as a positive outcome of the continuous efforts carried out by Sri Lanka Tourism to promote Sri Lanka to the Russian market, thus strengthening bilateral and economical ties
between the two nations, making Russia one of the most successful economic contributors in enhancing Sri Lankan tourism. The positive message spread by the Russian passengers will further encourage more Russian tourists to visit Sri Lanka for their annual vacation.
Article by Nelum Buddhadasa