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SL does not require minimum number of days to stay within ‘Bio Bubbles’: Kimarli

29 January 2021 11:15 am - 7     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Kimarli Fernando said Sri Lanka does not require a minimum number of days to stay in Sri Lanka within the ‘Bio Bubbles’ introduced by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

While participating in the virtual ‘Hello Again - Sri Lanka tourism awareness session’ to announce the re-opening of Sri Lanka for international tourists from the 21 January, she said Sri Lanka is “safe and exciting even during the pandemic”. 

“While staying in a secure level 1 hotel recognzed by Sri Lanka Tourism, or multiple hotels if needed within the ‘Bio Bubble’, they could use all the facilities of the hotels including SPA, the pool and the restaurants and visit tourist sites within the bubble. These level 1 hotels which have been certified by KPMG, as well as Ernst & Young, provide accommodation exclusively for international tourists. After an initial 14 days of the stay within the ‘Bio Bubble’, travelers will be able to exit from it at any time subject to having a negative PCR test, and be able to interact with the local community. The tourists are required to undergo several PCR tests during their stay, and medical insurance with a premium of 12 Dollars covered all the expenses related to transportation and ICU facility in the event of any difficulty,” she said.

The event was organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington D.C., with assistance from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Sri Lankan Airlines GSA office in the U.S., and attracted more than 60 tour and travel partners and media personal, including Expedia and Priceline.  

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US Ravinatha Aryasinha has observed that the credibility Sri Lanka Tourism earned in caring for the tourists who made lengthy extensions of their stay in the country at the time COVID broke out, and Sri Lankan Airlines being one of the few carriers that continued to fly when most commercial airline fleets were grounded, should give confidence for international travelers to visit the island once again, now that travel for tourists has resumed. 

Ambassador Aryasinha noted that prior to COVID curtailed global travel, tourist arrivals from the US had grown by 260% from 2010 to 2019, an annual average growth well over 20%, making the US one of the fastest-growing tourist arrival countries, which mainly drew niche tourists visiting and also staying longer. 


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  Comments - 7

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  • Sunil Friday, 29 January 2021 11:30 AM

    Is it worth the risk for a tourist. If any employee within bio bubble contracts covid, how will it be detected before he interacts with tourist. Are hotel employees tested daily

    Gert Jan, the Netherlands Friday, 29 January 2021 11:37 AM

    Maybe Sri Lanka is safe and exiting for us , but we are not safe and exiting for Sri Lanka. And when I ever return to Sri Lanka I want the small local companies to profit from me. Not the posh ones.

    Seb Friday, 29 January 2021 11:45 AM

    I'm one of these tourists. I've had 2 PCR tests before departure and 3 during my 14 days quarantine. I didn't even leave my room. I can ensure you that I'm free from covid and if I were to get it, it would be from a local.

    Tony Koh Friday, 29 January 2021 02:17 PM

    I found complex instructions to apply for an ETA Visa with no reciprocatory fee waiver arrangement or book air ticket with SriLankan Air. Heard arrival procedures and inland travel freedom waived selectively to a few countries which are highly infected??? Embassy not aware of updates or latest news or even dysfunctional! Nothing is transparent to the tourists wishing to visit Sri Lanka - choice of hotel upon arrival at Colombo, endless corrupt officials waiting to way lay the tourists be at the airport or elsewhere or reliability of PCR test results. Do simplify the procedures with less paper work if wishing to welcome back the tourists.

    Chux Friday, 29 January 2021 08:54 PM

    Pls note kirmali fernando has been one of the worst chairman’s of Sri Lanka tourism ever had and she was practicing banking norms in tourism a blot joke

    Abhaya Premawardena Friday, 29 January 2021 10:27 PM

    I am sorry Sri Lanka Tourism will find out rather quickly doing this many tests and locking them in their rooms is something that the tourists can do in their own countries by going to jail.

    Era Saturday, 30 January 2021 09:18 AM

    The next Pavithra ?


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