Plan to increase Russian tourists

Hemanthi GURUGE

Plans are under way to increase the number of Russian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka from 13,278 in 2010 to 20,000 by the end of 2011, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told 'Daily News Business.' There were 8,000 Russian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka up to August 2011.

"Sri Lanka has drawn up plans to promote up market tourism and Russia is an ideal market for this," he said.

As a forerunner to this, SriLankan Airlines commenced direct flights between Colombo and Moscow from last Saturday. This flight via Dubai is scheduled twice a week.

An A320 aircraft would be deployed initially and later they will take measures to substitute a bigger aircraft. "The current A320 aircraft can accommodate up to 140 passengers including business and economy," the Minister said.

The Minister also said that tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka has increased by 35% up to now, compared to the same period last year.

The government along with the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority is anticipating increasing the number of tourist arrival to 800,000 by the end of this year.