Sri Lanka among top five most popular Asian destinations for Russian tourists

• 6% of all travel-related searches about Asia focused on Sri Lanka- Yandex
• SL 6th most popular global destination for Russians after Turkey, Thailand, Egypt, UAE, Maldives- Survey 

Sri Lanka continues to rank among the top five most popular Asian travel destinations for Russian tourists, with a record number expected to visit during the winter season, according to Yandex, one of Europe’s largest internet companies based in Russia.

Based on the travel-related queries on Yandex during the first eight months of the year, Sri Lanka secured the fifth spot among the Asian destinations, trailing behind Thailand, China, the Maldives and Vietnam.

“Six percent of all travel-related searches about Asia are focused on Sri Lanka,” the Yandex officials revealed during a recent webinar organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, in partnership with Yandex Ads.

Although searches for travel to Sri Lanka saw a slight year-on-year decline of 3.4 percent to 884,395 queries, the interest remains strong. A Yandex survey conducted in September among 717 Russians who travel abroad at least once a year revealed that 25 percent expressed interest in visiting Sri Lanka, making it the sixth most popular global destination after Turkey, Thailand, Egypt, the UAE and Maldives.

Interestingly, 84 percent of the survey participants had never visited Sri Lanka before, indicating significant untapped potential. Additionally, 10 percent of respondents were planning to vacation in Sri Lanka in 2024-2025.

Sri Lanka’s wildlife emerged as the primary appeal for Russian tourists, followed by its favourable climate, which supports year-round recreational activities. Unique experiences such as ayurveda treatments, safaris and encounters with rare animal species also contribute to Sri Lanka’s allure.

However, high travel expenses and concerns about health and personal safety remain significant barriers for potential visitors from Russia.

Unawatuna is the most sought-after destination among Russian tourists, followed by Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Trincomalee and Negombo. Other locations such as Tangalle and Mirissa are also gaining traction as emerging hotspots.

Among Russians searching for travel to Sri Lanka, 76 percent were women, with the majority falling into the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups. Income-wise, 5 percent belonged to the high-net-worth category, 38 percent to the high-income group and 55 percent to the average-income group.

This summer saw a dip in Russian tourist arrivals, partially attributed to a shortage of direct charter flights from the Russian cities, due to the high landing and hotel charges. However, Yandex noted an increase in charter programmes, which is expected to drive growth in tourist numbers.

“A record number of Russian tourists is anticipated in the second half of 2024,” Yandex officials stated.

Charter flights now connect Sri Lanka to cities including Moscow, Kazan, Novosibirsk and Ekaterinburg. New additions this year include Tyumen, Samara, Mineralnye Vody, Saint Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk and Sochi.

As of December 15, 13,762 Russians visited Sri Lanka in December, contributing to a total of 180,414 Russian arrivals for the year and making it the second largest source market.

(NF)