• SriLankan Airlines has introduced ‘Buy One Get One’ system
• A significant increase of Russian tourists expected within next two months

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

Around 1,000 Russian tourists have booked air tickets through SriLankan Airlines and are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka this month, the Tourism Ministry said. 

The ministry said Russian tourists are currently booking all SriLankan flights from Moscow to Colombo schedule in October. 

SriLankan Airlines launched direct flights between Russia and Sri Lanka on July 31 this year.
Accordingly, SriLankan Airlines currently operates a direct flight from Moscow, Russia to Colombo each week. The ministry said SriLankan Airlines’ UL 534 is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka from Moscow on October 9, October 16, October 23 and October 30 with Russian tourists.

Earlier Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has instructed SriLankan Airlines to introduce a relief package for Russian tourists.  Accordingly, SriLankan Airlines has introduced the ‘Buy One Get One’ system. 
The ministry said that promotion has made Sri Lanka a more attractive destination to tourists.

According to the ministry, the highest number of Russian tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in 2019.  The number of Russian tourists who visited Sri Lanka that year was around 86,000. 

Also, 49,397 Russian tourists have arrived in Sri Lanka in 2020. The ministry said they expect there would be a significant increase in Russian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka within the next two months.

Meanwhile, the ministry said they expect to implement a joint tourism development programme between Sri Lanka and France.

This was revealed when Minister Prasanna Ranatunga met with the Secretary of State for Tourism of France at the annual International French Tourism Trade Fair which was held in Paris, France. 
 

• The ministry said SriLankan Airlines’ UL 534 is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka from Moscow on October 9, October 16, October 23 and October 30 with Russian tourists