Preparing for foreign tourists
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In a recent statement, Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents global airlines, urged governments to avoid quarantine measures when re-opening their economies. IATA is promoting a layered approach of measures to reduce the risk of countries importing COVID-19 via air travel and to mitigate the possibility of transmission in cases where people may travel while unknowingly being infected.
“Imposing quarantine measures on arriving travellers keep countries in isolation and the travel and tourism sector in lockdown. Fortunately, there are policy alternatives that can reduce the risk of importing COVID-19 infections while still allowing for the resumption of travel and tourism that are vital to jumpstarting national economies. We are proposing a framework with layers of protection to keep sick people from travelling and to mitigate the risk of transmission should a traveller discover they were infected after arrival,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, in a statement.
As I pondered on the stringent protocols to be adopted closer home (Sri Lanka), and rightly so since the pandemic is essentially an imported one and could trigger a second wave of infections if a few affected tourists return to holidaying in the country, the phone rang on this bright Thursday morning. It was my jolly-mood economist friend, Sammiya (short for Samson) on the line, a call that was welcome as I hadn’t spoken to him for several weeks.
“I say, Sammiya… how are you,” I asked. “Fine… fine amidst this pandemic,” he laughed, adding that he was interested in how tourism is to be revived in the country. “That’s something I was also thinking about at this very moment,” I said. “The Government seems to be unsure as to the exact date of the opening of the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake to international visitors. Earlier they said it was August 1 and later the Tourism Minister said it would be in mid-August. Yesterday I saw a news item quoting Sri Lanka Tourism chairperson Kirmali Fernando as saying that the airport opening date is yet to be decided,” he said. “I believe the government wants to complete the repatriation of Sri Lankans seeking to return from abroad before announcing a date of opening,” I said. We then discussed other aspects of the economy like the apparel industry which has been shattered by the COVID-19 crisis.
As I completed the call with Sammiya, I could hear someone giggling under the margosa tree where the trio had gathered for their now-routine Thursday gossip session. Amidst laughter, the conversation was also serious and centred on how the absence of tourism has hit villages in areas where tourists frequent.
“Mage massinata jeevathvenna hari amarui me davas vala. Videshikayo nethi hinda eyage hastha karmantha bisness eka kada wetila (My brother-in-law has a shop selling handicrafts in Dambulla. For the past four months, there are no sales as there are no tourists. He is struggling to survive),” said Kussi Amma Sera. Adding to the concerns, Serapina said a couple of friends from her village were tourist guides with no income for the past several months and had to do other odd jobs to feed the family. “Mage nenata dakune hotelayakin katha karala thibba aappai kevum saha kokis hadanna. Eth den maasa keepayakata weda thibbe ne. Den nam tika tika hondai, lankawe aya hotal walata yananisa (My sister-in-law was hired by some hotels down south to make hoppers and sweetmeats. She has been without work for many months now. However the return of local visitors to hotels might help her get back her job),” noted Mabel Rasthiyadu.
Indeed the resumption of operations at many hotels has seen a steady influx of local visitors particularly during weekends. Hotels have been offering some great deals ranging from Rs.5,000 per person full board to Rs.8,000 per person full board, depending on the class of hotel. However hotels have been empty mostly during weekdays.
The IATA statement states that travellers who are ill should not travel and to encourage passengers to “do the right thing” and stay home if they are unwell or potentially exposed, airlines are offering travellers flexibility in adjusting their bookings. Health screening using measures such as non-intrusive temperature checks can also play an important role. Although temperature checks are not the most effective screening method for COVID-19 symptoms, they can act as a deterrent to travelling while unwell, IATA said.
IATA said that mandatory quarantine measures stop people from travelling. “Recent public opinion research revealed that 83 per cent of travellers would not even consider travelling if quarantine measures were imposed on travellers at their destination,” it said.
In Sri Lanka’s case, the authorities are following a stringent set of health and safety protocols, proposed by the Ministry of Health and under WHO guidelines. These standards specify that visitors must have a prior booking for a minimum of five nights, with the first night booked at an accommodation establishment near the arrival airport until results of the compulsory on-arrival PCR tests are released. Tourists are required to obtain an online tourist visa before arrival for which a visa fee of US$100 will be levied per person. Visitors should also have valid travel insurance with health and hospitalisation coverage for the entire duration of stay, a valid return air ticket while any airline operating flights to Sri Lanka will check tourists for valid visas and negative PCR test reports before allowing them to board the flight.
A negative PCR report issued by an accredited laboratory within 72 hours prior to the landing in Sri Lanka is required for every visitor while multiple PCR tests will have to be taken depending on the length of stay. These tests are conducted free. If any tourist is tested positive for COVID-19, he/she will be sent to a hospital or a quarantine hotel and will be charged at the rate of $100 per night. At hotels, strict health safety guidelines will be in force including having isolation rooms in case of suspected COVID-19 cases.
As I awaited my second cup of tea being prepared by Kussi Amma Sera, I reflected on the challenges facing tourism and its large workforce which is unlikely to pick up – in the case of foreign tourists – until the first quarter of 2021 further denting Sri Lanka’s economic growth in 2020.