The luxury passenger cruise ship Mein Schiff 6, sailing under the Malta flag and carrying 2,380 tourists, has arrived at the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority at the Port of Colombo.
The vessel, measuring 295 metres in length and 42 metres in width, is operated by a crew of 951 members.
Tourism companies had organised a special cultural welcome for the arriving passengers, featuring traditional cultural performances. Necessary facilities and transport arrangements were also provided for tourists travelling to Kandy and other tourist destinations across the country. In addition, bicycles were arranged for tourists touring the Colombo city area.
The cruise ship had previously arrived at the Hambantota Port on May 19, where tourists visited attractions including Yala National Park, Bundala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Kataragama, and surrounding areas in Hambantota. A special programme was jointly organised by the Ruhunu Tourism Bureau and the Hambantota Municipal Council to facilitate services for the visitors.
Although tourist arrivals have experienced some decline due to the conflict situation in the Middle East, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority stated that the arrival of large cruise ships carrying significant numbers of tourists is a positive sign for the revival of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry
