News
Despite COVID, moves to bring Russian tourists
Despite a spike in the detection of COVID-19 positive cases throughout the country, the Tourism Ministry has sought cabinet approval to jump-start the tourism industry by inviting groups of 50 each from Russia and Germany.
Ministry Secretary S. Hettiaarachchi told the Sunday Times that under the plan, a few Southern Province hotels had been selected to fly in the tourists. The tourists are to land at the Mattala airport.
The hotel will be restricted to the visiting tourists while the staff will be required to remain in the hotel during the period. The tourists will be subjected to PCR tests 14 days before being allowed to travel around the country.
“The foreigners will be allowed to use the beach in the area near the hotel while the army will be deployed to guard the beach area and the hotel to prevent interaction with locals,” Mr Hettiaarachchi said.
The ministry has named two private hospitals and the Kotelawala Defence University hospital to carry out PCR tests for the visiting foreigners. In the event of any of the tourists being infected with COVID-19, the tourist will be either admitted to the two private hospitals or to the Neville Fernando Hospital.
At present, the Government is not allowing tourists to enter the country. Sri Lankans returning to the country are required to undergo 14 days quarantine at government-designated centres and then another 14 days of self-quarantine.
The Sunday Times learns that Udayanga Weeratunga, Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to Russia, has informed the Tourism Ministry that he is able to bring in 44,000 tourists from Russia.