No dates fixed for airport reopening
Health authorities in Sri Lanka have agreed with the tourism industry to reopen the airport to international travellers sometime in January on the condition that the country overcomes its current second wave in time.
Although there was no guarantee given that the move to re-open the airport could take place by the proposed January 1 as planned by tourism authorities, health officials have agreed re-opening within that month, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte told the Business Times on Thursday.
Thursday’s meeting was held between Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando, Tourism Ministry officials, representatives of the tourism industry and the officials from the Department of Health, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Primary Health Care, Epidemiology and Coronavirus Disease Control State Minister Sudharshani Fernandopulle and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. This was the first meeting held between the parties. Mr. Ukwatte stated that they had a “very positive meeting” and the initial objective of the industry is to ensure that the airport will open.
During the meeting, health officials had indicated that the current second wave of COVID-19 in the country would be a key concern as health authorities insist that the number of positive cases need to reduce in reviewing the protocols to welcoming tourists back to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka experienced its second wave in the first week of October when there was an outbreak that commenced from Minuwangoda and later again from Peliyagoda. The authorities asserted that the number of positive cases needs to come down for them to consider opening up the airport in January.
Tourism authorities have proposed for a set of COVID-19 approved hotels to provide accommodation initially upon arrival of tourists but this proposal will be subject to a review for which a sub-committee had been appointed at this meeting.
The sub-committee that was scheduled to meet for the first time on Saturday will comprise officials from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), two from the industry and officials from the Departments of Civil Aviation and Health.
Mr. Ukwatte noted that this committee will be reviewing the protocols in a fast track manner in a bid to ensure that they will be able to resume tourism related operation so as to revive the industry that has been receiving no form of revenue for the past nine months.
He explained that during the meeting, health authorities had clearly understood the importance of opening up the airport. In this respect, within the next two weeks it is likely that they will be able to arrive at a decision to fix a date to re-open the airport.
In the first phase about 80 hotels have been identified that could provide accommodation to tourists visiting the country with only a limited number brought down initially. The discussion also centred on opening the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport at the same time as the Bandaranaike International Airport to ensure that repatriation of overseas Sri Lankans could be brought down to the Mattala airport.