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Decision on tourist arrivals in two weeks, after COVID situation is reviewed
A decision on whether to allow tourist arrivals into the country will be taken in two weeks after reviewing the country’s COVID situation, a senior Tourism Ministry official told the Sunday Times.
As at present, all passenger flights into the country have been halted until May 31. However, Tourism Ministry officials are hoping to discuss and review the situation with health officials in two weeks to decide whether to recommence tourist flights.
There are currently about 2000 foreign tourists in the country, the ministry official revealed. New health guidelines mean they must spend 14 days in quarantine after arrival. Officials are hopeful that health authorities will still allow tour groups who have completed their quarantine period to travel to designated tourist sites under a secure “bio-bubble.”
Tourism authorities will also review the COVID situation in India in two weeks with health officials to look into the possibility of recommencing passenger flights from the country. Indians made up the largest number among tourists who visited Sri Lanka in April and the official said they were keen on bringing down Indian tourists into the country under a special “bio-bubble” programme.
