Sri Lankan Tourism to roll out new security plan for hotels, resorts
View(s):Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) on Tuesday reassured the world that the country is open for business and all possible measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of tourists while a new security plan for hotels and resorts will be soon rolled out.
“Our world famous tourism sites, hotels, resorts and other tourist attractions will remain open as usual. There are no road closures or restrictions on movement anywhere in the island,” it said, days after suicide bombers detonated explosive that cost the lives of over 300 people, including 40 tourists at three churches across Sri Lanka and three hotels in Colombo in Easter Sunday carnage.
In a media statement, SLT said the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) continued to engage with high-level government officials and tourism stakeholders in order to assess the current situation and have taken necessary steps to ensure all possible assistance is provided to tourists in need of help.
In the immediate aftermath of the explosions SLT said it deployed trained emergency response teams and its representatives at hospitals, affected hotels and the airport to assist tourists in any way possible including hotel transfers, airline bookings, airport transfers, itinerary changes, hospital treatment, contacting their loved ones and reuniting missing family members through diplomatic channels.
In addition a 24 hour emergency support desk has been established and can be accessed as follows; Emergency local hotline number to assist tourists currently in Sri Lanka – 1912; Emergency hotline to assist families of affected foreign nationals +94 11 2322485
“SLT wishes to assure tourists who are already in the country and unaffected by the terror attacks that the police, tourism police and security forces are jointly implementing a comprehensive security plan to ensure their safety across the island including all important tourism sites. Meanwhile a security briefing was held on April 22 for hotel owners and operators on the new safety measures that are being rolled out and to seek their cooperation in strengthening security at hotels and resorts,” the statement said.
“Since the end of the war a decade ago, Sri Lanka has enjoyed absolute peace and it will do everything within its power to maintain the peace that every Sri Lankan cherishes and rebuild what has been destroyed with renewed vigour. There is no place for terrorism of any kind in Sri Lanka and whoever that is responsible for the Easter Sunday violence will be hunted down and punished in the strongest possible manner,” it said adding: “Sri Lanka Tourism looks forward to warmly welcome all those who have planned trips to the country in the days, weeks and months ahead.”