Over 1,000 tourist arrivals from the Russian region are expected at Velana International Airport on Saturday.
Mohamed Shaz, the Managing Director of Resort Life, the travel agency that brings in a large number of tourists from the Russian region, said three flights carrying tourists arriving through the company will land at VIA on Saturday. This includes a wide bodied Boeing 777 aircraft, said Shaz.
Shaz said this is the first time such a large number of tourists are arriving in the Maldives through a local company in one day.
According to Shaz, two flights of Azur Air will be arriving from both Russia and Ukraine. The flights will be operated every Saturday until March, said Shaz.
‘Azur Air Ukraine already landed at VIA this morning with 311 passengers. Azur Air Russia with 530 passengers, and Ukraine International with 280 passengers will be arriving later in the afternoon,’ he said.
Russia is one of the biggest markets for Maldivian tourism. According to statistics released by the Tourism Ministry, 46,065 Russian tourists have visited the Maldives since the archipelago reopened its borders in July until December 13. This is equivalent to ten percent of total arrivals in 2020, and 20.7 percent of tourism arrivals post border reopening. The increase in the number of Russian tourists is mainly due to the increasing number of airlines operating to the Maldives from the Russian region.
