The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) conducted a roadshow for Russian tour operators, after a lapse of four years.
The events took place in Moscow and St. Petersburg recently. Over 100 guests attended the events in both cities. Among them were tour operators, travel agents, DMC companies, trade, media and tourism industry representatives. (Russia is one of the top 10 countries, based on the number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. As many as 64,497 Russian tourists visited the island last year).
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation Dayan Jayatilleke, Director of Marketing, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Madubgani Perera, representatives of the tour operators and hoteliers Associations and Rossiya Airlines were present.
The ambassador drew attention to the potential of the Russian market as a destination in which the SLTPB should carry out promotional activities.He also encouraged Russian tour operators and Sri Lankan travel agents, to work together.
Madubhani Perera highlighted the tourist facilities in Sri Lanka, emphasising that it is ‘an all year-round’ destination with rich cultural and historical heritage sites, tropical forests, and pristine beaches. She also drew attention to the fact that the travel guide, ‘Lonely Planet’, had chosen Sri Lanka as the ‘Number 1 travel destination of 2019’.
The representatives of leading Russian air carriers - Aeroflot and Rossiya Airlines, outlined the direct flights, inflight services and flight schedules between Moscow and Colombo.
The main part of the events in both cities was a business session between travel trade partners from Russia and Sri Lanka. Travel trade professionals suggested more FAM-trips for agents, launch of an advertising campaign and arranging of business seminars in Russia’s main cities as an effective way to promote Sri Lanka in Russia.
The island was marked as a popular travel point for the Russian tourists (from among Thailand, Indonesia, China, Maldives, UAE and Vietnam). Events in both cities ended with Asian-style networking dinners, and a raffle draw for gifts from the Sri Lankan companies which participated in the roadshow.