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Health Ministry clashes with Tourism Ministry over airport Covid-rule
View(s):By Yoshitha Perera
The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday opted to maintain the same entry status quo after health officials said it was not mandatory to produce the COVID-19 vaccination card for arriving tourists, Airport and Aviation Chairman Rtd. Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said.
The Tourism Ministry on Friday issued a notice requiring foreign tourists to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination card to enter Sri Lanka from January 14.
However, twelve hours after issuing the notice, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the entry status quo remained unchanged despite the notice issued by the Tourism Ministry.
In a social media post, he noted that any statement pertinent to COVID-19 would either be made from the Health Ministry or the Presidential Secretariat.
“We were not aware of any legality behind issuing such as a notice from the Tourism Ministry. It is the Health Services Director General who is vested with powers in terms of the Quarantine Ordinance to issue such notices. However, at this point, the Health Ministry has not issued any such notice,” Public Health Services Deputy Director Dr. Hemantha Herath, told the Sunday Times.
In an effort to stop the virus from spreading within the nation, the Tourism Ministry stated that new COVID-19 standards were relevant for tourists coming to the country.
All travellers entering Sri Lanka must present a digital copy of their COVID-19 vaccination card at the entry point, the Tourism Ministry added. “Travellers who do not have proof of COVID-19 immunization must present a negative PCR report,” the Ministry noted.
However, the Tourism Ministry’s notice has drawn strong opposition from industry stakeholders.
Yesterday, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Travel Operators (SLAITO) said it was “shocked and dismayed” by the latest ruling by Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT).
SLAITO said the new Tourism Ministry rule came without any warning or discussion with the industry or health authorities. “We believe this is a job for the health authorities and should be done after a full analysis of the situation in keeping with WHO advice.”
Whilst talking about tourism being the “lowest hanging fruit” for economic recovery, “we in the industry believe that this protocol coming directly from Sri Lanka Tourism will only serve to kill the industry that was just beginning to raise its head after a year of turmoil,” it said.
SLAITO said from a destination marketing point of view, many local and foreign tour operators had invested in promoting the destination following the removal of adverse travel advisories.
“Bringing in a new protocol creates another stumbling block and will discourage foreign tour operators promoting the destination and losing faith in destination Sri Lanka. This protocol is a further impediment considering that the visa fee too, was just increased, at a time when competing destinations are giving free visas to encourage tourists,” the association said.
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