Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has updated the Cabinet on the progress of the talks with health authorities to reopen borders for international travelers.
Preparations to open the country’s airports were discussed at the Cabinet meeting held on Monday under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“The Joint Tourism and Health Committee has been directed to submit their final recommendations by the end of this week and also get the approval for the same from the Health Services Director General by early next week,” Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Daily FT.
Upon Joint Committee recommendations, the Minister has requested two separate meetings with the President and COVID-19 Task Force next week.
In a separate statement Ranatunga said: “During the meeting, President Rajapaksa had also said that the resumption of the tourism industry could be agreed upon health advice and proper protocols.”
The President had informed the Cabinet that he had also discussed the matter with the health authorities and that it was appropriate to adopt travel bubbles to attract tourists to the identified areas.
Ranatunga stated that the health authorities are in agreement on the travel bubbles concept for tourist hotels located in special areas reserved for travellers.
The Minister has informed the Cabinet that the discussions held between the health and tourism authorities regarding the opening of the country’s borders to welcome international travellers were 90% successful.
Accordingly, the date for the opening of the airports to tourists will be announced soon, the Minister said at the Cabinet meeting.
The Minister also said he was looking forward to discussing with the President and the COVID-19 Task Force on the final agreements of the Joint Tourism and Health Committee appointed to formulate the relevant protocol.
Meanwhile, Joint Tourism and Health Committee officials had also discussed at length on the viability of travel bubbles and its attractiveness to allow tourists for dedicated tourist hotspots at a meeting held on Monday.
The Joint Committee had insisted that the guests could only stay in hotels that are certified by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and a strict mechanism to track stakeholders on how well they follow health guidelines.
It has been decided to conclude the relevant Joint Committee discussions in the immediate future and submit their recommendations to the Ministers-in-charge.
By Charumini de Silva (DailyFT)