Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

High-spending Russian tourists arrive for holiday

- Photo: S. Mahinsha

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Russian tourists who arrived on a chartered flight at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport on Thursday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A chartered flight from St. Petersburg, Russia, with 160 high-spending Russian tourists arrived here on Thursday night giving further impetus to the peak tourism season in the State.

The TU 154 aircraft of Pulkov Airline, which was scheduled to arrive here at 5 p.m., touched down at the airport around 7.45p.m after a brief halt at Sharjah for refuelling.

The tourists, comprising mainly youngsters, who came out of the terminal building after the customs and immigration formalities, were presented with garlands by the tour operators. A ‘panchavadyam ensemble provided the festive mood.

Many of the Russians were seen shooting the ‘panchavadyam’ ensemble and the hundreds who gathered to see the Russians. The Russians were very cheerful and the jetlag was not visible in their faces. Despite the language barrier, the children were keen to pose for photographs.

Later, the tourists proceeded to the parking lot for boarding the luxury coaches to their hotels in Kovalam and Chowara. Although the tour operators roped in a caparisoned elephant to greet them, the Russians did not show any interest even in going near it.

The Russians will stay in Kovalam for the next 10 days and will visit Kovalam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Kumarakom and undertake a backwater cruise.

“The Russians are high-spenders and a tourist will spend a minimum of Rs.3 lakh here,” James Kodianthara, executive director of Concord Exotic Voyages, said.

Along with Concord, the tour operations are being done by Meetons and Royal Park Tourism based in Russia and SITA.

The 15-member crew of the aircraft led by Luckov Vladmmir will stay in Kovalam. The Russians will fly back home on January 13 to be in their country for the New Year on January 14. Eight interpreters have also been deputed to assist the Russians.

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