Operators are waiting for holidays

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   Careful optimism – that’s the best characteristic for the mood of tour operators that send tourists to Sri Lanka and Maldives. According to experts with whom BANKO reporter talked on October 24, demand is still on last year’s level, but final conclusion on the measure of this region’s recovering from last year’s tsunami will be made closer to New Year holidays, which represent the peak of interest to this destination. ‘Let’s see how November and December pass,’ says, in particular, Tatiana Vand, director of ‘Vand international tour’.
   The players’ position reflects on the situation in air transfer: operators are not sure that last year’s volumes will be claimed. ‘The market volume is not enough to raise a charter in addition to regular flights,’ marked Natalia Chelnokova, ‘Jetwing’ director. As a result, in the approaching season tour operators preferred to refuse organizing traditional Moscow – Male – Colombo program. Only three single charter flights are declared (for comparison: there were 5 such flights last year). Players explain their caution partly by the fact that Sri Lanka hoteliers haven’t yet determined prices and conditions of allotments confirmation. However, along with certain shortening of transfer volumes, regular transfer volumes grew: Qatar Airways increased аflights frequency to Colombo with intermediate landing in Dohe from 3 to 5 times a week. Airways’ flights frequency to Male has increased by the same number.
   Besides, 2 ‘Transaero’ flights will head for Maldives this year (a ‘Transaero’ Boeing 747 with 11–12 days periodicity from November 2, and same company’s Boeing 767 from December 28). ‘Travel!’ company is the consolidator of these flights. There will be only 2 frequencies instead of 3 this season, but transfer volume is on the same level as last year (last autumn 2 Boeings 767 were flying).
   As to land service, according to experts’ forecasts, there will be traditional deficit on Maldives, as room fund is limited there. Situation is aggravated by the fact that at the moment Europeans are booking rooms for the after-New Year period. Yet operators chose to assume expectant position here as well.