Move to bring Russian holidaymakers to Sri Lanka

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

Sri Lanka’s two international airports, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), Mattala, will be partly opened from December 29 to January 16 to accommodate Russian tourists.

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga told The Island Financial Review that the pilot project approved by the Cabinet is aimed at bringing around 6,000 holidaymakers from Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine adhering to health guidelines in Sri Lanka.

Sixteen hotels with beach frontage in Beruwala, Koggala ,Bentota, Ahungalle and Kalutara have been selected for the Russian tourists who arrive in the hotels from the airport after a compulsory second PCR test (first in Russia before 72 hours) prior to check in.

“These tourists will arrive on charter flights and each tourist is expected to spend about US$ 1500 a day,” he added.

The beach and roads leading to the hotels will be isolated to ensure that no Sri Lankans would come in contact with the tourists, and hotel staffs will stay in the hotels for 21 days.

Further speaking the former Russian Ambassador said:

“This would be a one-month pilot project and all flights will be charter flights with landing charges removed for airlines”.

“Four major airlines namely Aeroflot, Ukraine International Air, Sky Airlines and SCAT Airline have expressed their willingness to bring tourists to Sri Lanka. Initially, Ukraine International Airlines will bring 214 passengers to the country.”

“Russians are looking forward to travelling to destinations, especially by the sea, to spend their holidays. The age group of this segment is between 30-40 years. At a time the entire tourism sector has been affected due to non-arrival of tourists owing to Covid-19 pandemic, this would be a real boost for the sector.”

“Last year, about 45 million Russians travelled across the globe. 44,000 of these travellers would visit Sri Lanka if the country takes steps to accommodate them”.

“We need to establish more all-inclusive hotels and engage more Russian speaking staff to make the Russian tourists feel more comfortable”.

“Gem shops and souvenir stalls in these hotels also would be able to gain from this initiative. All stakeholders will get together, discuss and decide on a coordinated programme to make this a reality”, Weeratunga said.