Opportunities for Sri Lanka tourism promotion in Russia were discussed on May 5th at a meeting of H.E. the Ambassador, Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage with the Head of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, Mr. Ignatiev Andrey Vladimirovich.
Russian Union of Travel Industry is the largest industry association, founded in 1993, which includes about 3000 members like tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, health resorts, transport, and other organizations in the field of tourism. The structure of the RUTI includes regional offices and representatives in 48 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, 41 committees and commissions, as well as international representatives in 29 countries.
In his welcome speech Mr. Ignatiev expressed interest in collaboration calling Sri Lanka a very promising destination. He reminded that in currently the biggest part of European countries are closed for Russian Tourists, what will definitely lead to sufficient increase of tourists number following to Asia countries.
Further Mr. Ignatiev kindly invited to use the Internet resources and social medias of the Union for the publication of Sri Lanka Tourism materials on a gratuitous basis as well proposed to arrange familiarization trips to Sri Lanka for the group of the biggest tour operators, representative from Tourism authority of Russia and State Parliament (tourism committee) along with travel journalists.
As well the parties agreed to conduct the 3 big presentations of Sri Lanka tourism for the three biggest Russian cities: Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and Yekaterinburg inviting all the tour operators of the regions.
In conclusion it was suggested to appoint an official representative of the Russian Union of Travel Industry in Sri Lanka.
