Sri Lanka Tourism lobbies for inclusion in travel corridors

Sri Lanka Tourism on Wednesday said it is working closely with the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry to include Sri Lanka in developing travel corridors for returning tourists or visiting Sri Lankans to travel with no quarantine overseas following the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are working closely with our ambassador in the UK and other ambassadors who are talking to the relevant governments," said Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Kimarli Fernando in a statement.

"Since the date of Colombo airport opening isn't known, that can be a constraint to getting on safe travel lists which also factor in reciprocity," Fernando added.

Sri Lanka Tourism is working closely with the Health Ministry on a detailed protocol on resuming international tourism in Sri Lanka in a COVID-19 safe environment.

Fernando said once approved, it would provide further comfort to other governments as it covers all touchpoints of international visitors to the country.

Sri Lanka Tourism is also in discussion to provide insurance policies specifically to cover international guests for COVID-19 related risks. The country is all set to re-open its international airports next month as authorities had successfully contained the COVID-19 spread.

To date, 2,084 patients have been infected with the virus in Sri Lanka since the first local patient was detected in March, but the country has seen a recovery rate of over 90 percent with 1,967 patients recovering and being successfully discharged.