Russia rates Lanka a top tourist destination

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

The Head of the Federal Tourism Agency, Strzalkovskiy Vladimir Igorevich in Russia has rated Sri Lanka as one of the top destinations for Russian tourists and one which he feels would grow in popularity in the near future.

This was made known during an official meeting recently when the Deputy Minister of Tourism Faizer Musthapha met Igorevich in Moscow. Igorevich who heads the entire travel and tourism section in Russia pledged his support for what he described Sri Lanka a beautiful island.

The Deputy Minister discussed various methods by which the Sri Lankan Tourism Industry could create maximum awareness among Russian travellers and increase the number of visitors from Russia.

A framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed by the Board of Management was discussed in detail. The Deputy Minister discussed how Russian students following hotel management causes could pursue their studies at the Hotel School in Colombo.

It was decided that the Sri Lankan National Tourist Guide Lecturers should be offered short and medium term language training courses at one of the leading tourism schools in Russia.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board under the proposed new worldwide public relations campaign has decided to appoint a destination representation company in Russia to carry out all promotional and marketing activities of Sri Lanka.

Responding to a request by Minister, Igorevich also agreed to provide assistance to facilitate the appointment of a destination representation company in Russia.