Sri Lanka welcomes over 2000 cruise tourists

Sri Lanka, in a powerful message that its open to tourism amidst the carnage from Cyclone Ditwah, on Tuesday welcomed the luxury cruise ship Mein Schiff 06, operated by TUI Cruises, carrying more than 2,000 international passengers to the Colombo Port.

This marks the first major tourist movement since last week’s natural disaster, sending a clear message to the world: Sri Lanka is safe, open, and ready to embrace visitors once again, the Tourism Ministry said in a media release.

Passengers, predominantly German nationals, said they plan to return to Sri Lanka soon, and several pledged to act as ambassadors for the island nation, spreading the word that Sri Lanka remains a welcoming and beautiful destination.

Out of the 2,300 passengers on board, more than 1,600 guests ventured out on one-day and half-day excursions across the island. These tours highlighted Sri Lanka’s diversity and charm, taking visitors to destinations such as Galle, Madu Oya, Kalutara, and Colombo, where they enjoyed city tours, tuk tuk rides, bustling market visits, food tours, cooking classes, and visits to temples and religious sites. To accommodate this large movement, over 72 coaches and 30 small vans were mobilised, reflecting the strength of Sri Lanka’s tourism infrastructure and its ability to host international travellers at scale.

The Mein Schiff, sailing from Cape Town to Singapore, will continue its journey to Hambantota Port for a one-day excursion, offering passengers the chance to explore more of Sri Lanka’s diverse attractions.

Local operations were managed by Aitken Spence Travels, the appointed local tour operator, with Hapag-Lloyd Lanka Pvt Ltd serving as the port service agent.