Sri Lanka will not host Russian charter flights during the off-season, with the suspension lasting until October due to low demand and lack of summer promotions, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).
This follows the early end of Red Wings Airlines’ winter charter programme to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in April, with the aircraft now reassigned to Egypt, a more popular summer destination.
ATOR warned that Sri Lanka’s tourism, heavily reliant on Russian charters, could see a sharp decline in summer arrivals.
While the Deputy Tourism Minister plans to extend MRIA’s airport charge waivers to attract Russian charters, former Ambassador Udyanga Weeratunga criticized attempts to reintroduce fees.
Tour operators stress the need for coordinated marketing and government-backed initiatives, though efforts for summer 2024 may be too late.
Competition from Turkey, Egypt, and Thailand, along with Sri Lanka’s limited infrastructure and seasonal appeal, further challenges its summer tourism growth.
Russia, once Sri Lanka’s second-largest source market, has dropped to third place as of mid-April.
