Sri Lanka Shines Again, After the Storm - Luxury Cruise Brings 2,000 Tourists to Colombo

In a powerful symbol of resilience and recovery, Sri Lanka today welcomed the luxury cruise ship Mein Schiff 06, operated by TUI Cruises, carrying 2300 European tourists 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.

Tourists are predominantly German nationals, expressed admiration for Sri Lanka’s hospitality and praised the personal engagement Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, who visited the ship to meet guests and hear their impressions. Many passengers shared that 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 vans were mobilized, reflecting the strength of Sri Lanka’s tourism infrastructure and its ability to host international travelers 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.