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- They will be brought under a bio bubble and will be taken only to selected destinations in the country including Pasikudah which was popular among Russian tourists
By JAMILA HUSAIN
Sri Lanka’s former envoy to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga says he is aiming to bring in at least 2,500 Russian tourists per month to Sri Lanka after the country re-opens its borders and approval is received from the Health authorities.
Weeratunga who has been dubbed as the ‘Godfather’ of Russian tourists told Daily Mirror that discussions were ongoing with Russia’s Aeroflot airline and Sri Lankan Airlines to operate at least one flight each per week between Moscow and Colombo where at least 275 passengers will arrive in the country per week. Weeratunga said presently the Maldives was able to attract an estimated 20,000 Russian tourists per month and if the neighbouring island could attract so many, then it was possible to attract at least 2,500 Russian tourists here as Sri Lanka was a preferred holiday destination among the Ukrainians and Russians.
While plans were afoot to begin flights between the two destinations to promote tourism, plans were put on hold after the third wave of COVID-19 struck Sri Lanka and airports were closed for all tourists till May 31. Officials said this closure might now extend till June 7 till such time the country remains under the islandwide travel restriction.
The project to bring down Russian tourists has now been postponed and will resume only after borders open and health authorities grant the clearance, Weeratunga said.
They will be brought under a bio bubble and will be taken only to selected destinations in the country including Pasikudah which was popular among Russian tourists. Weeratunga further slammed critics who stated that the Russian tourists would be responsible for the spread of a COVID-19 pandemic in the country stating that the virus did not specifically target only the Russians and Ukrainians as the virus could enter through any other arrival including the Sri Lankans being repatriated.
“So if the argument is that they should not come here because of COVID-19, then that is discriminatory, as if we can allow other tourists, then we can most definitely allow the Russians too,” Weeratunga said.
“So our talks between the countries will continue to boost tourism and we will begin once health authorities grant the clearance,” he added.
- Их доставят под биопузырь и доставят только в избранные места в стране, включая Пасикуда, который был популярен среди российских туристов.
By JAMILA HUSAIN
Бывший посланник Шри-Ланки в России Удаянга Виратунга говорит, что он планирует привозить не менее 2500 российских туристов в месяц в Шри-Ланку после того, как страна вновь откроет свои границы и будет получено разрешение органов здравоохранения.
Виратунга, которого окрестили «крестным отцом» российских туристов, сообщил Daily Mirror, что с российской авиакомпанией Аэрофлот и Шри-Ланкийскими авиалиниями ведутся переговоры о том, чтобы выполнять по крайней мере один рейс в неделю между Москвой и Коломбо, куда прибудут не менее 275 пассажиров. страна в неделю. Виратунга сказал, что в настоящее время Мальдивы смогли привлечь около 20 000 российских туристов в месяц, и если соседний остров мог привлечь так много, то можно было бы привлечь сюда как минимум 2500 российских туристов, поскольку Шри-Ланка была предпочтительным местом отдыха среди украинцев и Россияне.
В то время как планировалось начать полеты между двумя направлениями для развития туризма, планы были приостановлены после того, как третья волна COVID-19 поразила Шри-Ланку, и аэропорты были закрыты для всех туристов до 31 мая. Официальные лица заявили, что это закрытие теперь может продлиться до С 7 июня до этого времени в стране действует ограничение на поездки по острову.
По словам Виратунги, проект по вывозу российских туристов отложен и возобновится только после открытия границ и разрешения органов здравоохранения.
Их доставят под био-пузырь и доставят только в избранные места в стране, включая Пасикуда, который был популярен среди российских туристов. Виратунга далее раскритиковал критиков, заявивших, что российские туристы будут нести ответственность за распространение пандемии COVID-19 в стране, заявив, что вирус не нацелен конкретно только на русских и украинцев, поскольку вирус мог проникнуть через любое другое прибытие, включая Шри-Ланку. Репатриация ланкийцев.
«Так что, если аргумент состоит в том, что они не должны приезжать сюда из-за COVID-19, то это дискриминация, как если бы мы могли позволить другим туристам, то мы определенно можем позволить и русским», – сказал Виратунга.
«Таким образом, наши переговоры между странами будут и дальше способствовать развитию туризма, и мы начнем, как только органы здравоохранения дадут разрешение», – добавил он.
- They will be brought under a bio bubble and will be taken only to selected destinations in the country including Pasikudah which was popular among Russian tourists
By JAMILA HUSAIN
Sri Lanka’s former envoy to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga says he is aiming to bring in at least 2,500 Russian tourists per month to Sri Lanka after the country re-opens its borders and approval is received from the Health authorities.
Weeratunga who has been dubbed as the ‘Godfather’ of Russian tourists told Daily Mirror that discussions were ongoing with Russia’s Aeroflot airline and Sri Lankan Airlines to operate at least one flight each per week between Moscow and Colombo where at least 275 passengers will arrive in the country per week. Weeratunga said presently the Maldives was able to attract an estimated 20,000 Russian tourists per month and if the neighbouring island could attract so many, then it was possible to attract at least 2,500 Russian tourists here as Sri Lanka was a preferred holiday destination among the Ukrainians and Russians.
While plans were afoot to begin flights between the two destinations to promote tourism, plans were put on hold after the third wave of COVID-19 struck Sri Lanka and airports were closed for all tourists till May 31. Officials said this closure might now extend till June 7 till such time the country remains under the islandwide travel restriction.
The project to bring down Russian tourists has now been postponed and will resume only after borders open and health authorities grant the clearance, Weeratunga said.
They will be brought under a bio bubble and will be taken only to selected destinations in the country including Pasikudah which was popular among Russian tourists. Weeratunga further slammed critics who stated that the Russian tourists would be responsible for the spread of a COVID-19 pandemic in the country stating that the virus did not specifically target only the Russians and Ukrainians as the virus could enter through any other arrival including the Sri Lankans being repatriated.
“So if the argument is that they should not come here because of COVID-19, then that is discriminatory, as if we can allow other tourists, then we can most definitely allow the Russians too,” Weeratunga said.
“So our talks between the countries will continue to boost tourism and we will begin once health authorities grant the clearance,” he added.
