To strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector, Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, participated in the VI International Tourism Forum “Let’s Travel! 2026,” from 10–12 June 2026, in Moscow, along with an official and business delegation.
The Deputy Minister held several high-level bilateral meetings to enhance tourism cooperation and increase tourist arrivals from Russia to Sri Lanka. He met Mr. Dmitry Vakhrukov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Their discussions focused on strengthening tourism ties, improving connectivity, and identifying new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.
Both parties also agreed to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation to further institutionalize bilateral tourism relations. Parties also agreed to facilitate familiarization (FAM) tours for Russian tour operators and travel agents in the premium sector, media personnel, and influencers during 2026 and 2027 to enhance destination awareness and stimulate demand for Sri Lanka in the Russian market.
The Deputy Minister also met Mr. Dmitry Ionin, Deputy Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region, and Ms. Gvichiya Nana Margushevna, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee of St. Petersburg. Discussions focused on strengthening regional tourism cooperation and expanding tourism exchanges with key Russian regions that contribute significantly to outbound tourism to Sri Lanka.
As part of the Forum’s official programme, Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe participated as a panelist in two high-level sessions titled “Russia–Asia Session: Direct Flights, Simplified Visas and What This Means for the Industry” and “Tourism of International Importance: The Strategic Potential of International Cooperation.” Addressing the participants, the Deputy Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s recently introduced 30-day free visa scheme for Russian nationals as an additional incentive for Russian travelers planning their upcoming winter holidays. He further emphasized the critical importance of direct air connectivity in promoting tourism growth and expressed appreciation to Aeroflot and Red Wings Airlines for their continued commitment to operating direct flights between Russia and Sri Lanka and underscored the role of tourism as a driver of economic growth, intercultural understanding, and international cooperation.
In addition, the Deputy Minister was also interviewed by TASS and Sputnik, two prominent national media houses, where he highlighted the government policy directions to overcome the regulatory barriers in the tourism sector to attract more Russian tourists to Sri Lanka.
