Tour operators are expanding winter programs for Sri Lanka

The Russian tourist flow to Sri Lanka for the first 5 months of 2018 increased by 14.5%. According to tour operators, the direction in the upcoming winter season 2018/2019 will show an increase of 20%. According to the Ministry of Tourism of Sri Lanka, in January-May almost 37 thousand Russians visited the country. Traditionally they travel to Sri Lanka resorts in the winter months: in January 11 569 Russian tourists were registered (+ 12%), in February - 11 043 (+ 22.3%), in March - 9 098 (+ 28.1%). In April the flow began to decline: 4,602 people and in May 1,242 people. High winter demand is confirmed by tour operators. According to ANEX Tour, from the capital -by charter flights - sales of winter tours were higher in comparison with the last year. And the demand for regular flights to Sri Lanka grew by 1.7 times. ICS Travel Group tour operator for the first 5 months of 2018 noted 50% growth of sales against the same period of 2017. This winter tour operators forecast a 20%.increase of demand. According to Svetlana Davidyuk, the director of the exotic department of Russian Express tour operator, the May result confirms the fact that Russian tourists prefer Sri Lanka as a "winter" destination. According to the Head of the direction of Intourist operator Tatiana Copat, despite on the attractive summer prices in hotels and the absence of problems with air tickets, tourists prefer to choose destinations with shorter flights in the summer.