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Published on : Thursday, January 21, 2021
After being shut for 10 months due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Sri Lanka is once again looking forward to receive foreign tourists into the country, but with strict rules in place. Although Sri Lanka has witnessed a significant number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths, it is keeping no stone unturned to revitalize the tourism sector.
Sri Lanka experienced a rough patch since the Eastern bombings of 2019 and the pandemic in 2020. The decision to reopen tourism in the midst of a surge in corona virus cases is due to a downturn in its usually lucrative tourism sector. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau said that all measures are being taken to initiate safe and secure holidays for visitors. Sri Lanka did a trial run by welcoming 1700 Ukrainian tourists last month. At the moment, the England cricket team is in Sri Lanka, playing a two-Test series.
Tourists aiming to visit Sri Lanka are required to follow few strict protocols. Tourists can only stay in the 55 designated hotels across the country. These hotels are off-limits to locals, except for staff. The main criteria for entering would be to show your COVID-19 negative test result, which should be a PCR test. The test should be a maximum of four days old before arrival. Also, one is required to undertake two more tests if they are staying for up to seven days, and three more tests in case their stay is extended more than a week.
Besides this, one would have to pay US$12 for insurance covering up to USD 50000 in medical costs for COVID-related cases. Also, visitors would be accompanied by officials to the designated tourist spots for the first two weeks. In case a visitor is positive and asymptomatic, they are required to isolate themselves in their hotel rooms. Those exhibiting symptoms will be taken to a hospital.
However, travelers spending more than two weeks in Britain before trying to enter Sri Lanka will not be allowed to enter the country. Flights from the UK are likely to remain banned.
Tags: Sri Lanka