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Three ministries work out plan to revive tourism
Three ministries will jointly seek approval for a plan to revive the tourism industry by opening up the airports for visitors from November after a six-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said.
Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiaarachchi told the Sunday Times that his ministry along with the Health and Aviation Ministries would seek approval for a tourism industry revival plan after a severe revenue drop this year.
Under the proposed plan, the ministry would seek approval to permit tourists to visit the country in small batches varying from a minimum 10 to about 50 people or even up to 100 depending on whether the group could be managed, he said.
The secretary said the Government would give priority to long-term visitors hoping to stay between one and three months and elderly tourists who planned to visit the country to escape the severe winter in their countries.
For the first 14 days, tourist will be required to stay in designated hotels with movements only with their own group to limited destinations.
During the two weeks they will be required to undergo three PCR tests to determine if they are infected with COVID-19 and, if cleared, they will be allowed to visit any of the destinations even in an individual capacity, according to the plan now being finalised.
Mr. Hettiarachchi said a separate cabinet paper was being submitted to impose a ‘COVID-fee’ enabling the Government to cover its expenses for PCR tests and other expenses while an insurance scheme would be introduced to cover medical expenses in the event the visitor was found to be infected with COVID-19 and required treatment.
The tourist would be required to carry a PCR-test report obtained 72 hours prior to embarkation.
Mr Hettiaarachchi said in terms of the plan, cabinet approval would be sought to use the Mattala International airport exclusively for tourist arrivals and departures.
“We need to start the process of attracting tourists to revive the industry,” he said.
The moves come as tourism revenue figures are expected to drop by 25 percent from the estimated US$ 4,000 million. The tourism sector which suffered a setback due to the Easter Sunday bombings last year was expected to pick up, before the outbreak of the COVID-19.
The tourism industry’s crash also has deprived direct and indirect employment to more than half a million people.
Health Ministry Secretary Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe told the Sunday Times that talks on health precautions were being held before finalising the plans.
| Sky high concessions for flights to Mattala The Government is offering a host of concessions to attract international flights to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA). The concessions include a complete waiver of the flight disembarkation and embarkation levy, further discounts in ground handling charges and free-of-charge landing and takeoff, Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiaarachchi said. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been requested to offer aviation fuel at discounted rates. The concessions are to be discussed with the Finance Ministry and finalised this week. The charges for the use of airspace will remain unchanged for the next two years. Meanwhile, the Foreign Employment Bureau has been requested to provide a discount on air tickets for migrant workers if they make use of the Mattala airport. “The objective is to attract more flights to the MRIA as it would be an airport which offers the lowest rates,” the secretary said. The Government is also granting concessions for the use of the Ratmalana airport. | |