Glimmer of hope for tourism industry!

■ „Gets President’s nod to open Sltdaregistered establishments to public from today ■ „Asked to operate with maximum capacity of 25% ■ „MOH instructed to issue health guidelines to facilitate opening of sector ■ „Vaccination drive for tourism sector st

The tourism sector received the nod from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the weekend to resume operations starting today (July 5) with limited capacity.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been instructed to put forward the required health guidelines to pave the way to reopen sections of the tourism sector while Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic’s third wave.

Instructed by President Rajapaksa, all Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (Sltda)registered restaurants, hotels are permitted with effect from today to open and operate restaurants, eating houses and bars at 25 percent of total capacity.

In an effort to step up efforts in the revival of the hard-hit industry the MOH has been instructed to commence the vaccination drive for tourism sector stakeholders across the island through the district MOH centers from July 15.

To ensure the beneficiaries of the vaccination efforts via the programme are only those involved in the tourism sector, members are required to produce a valid letter from a SLTDA registered tourism establishment in addition to the National Identity Card (NIC).

A letter to the MOH by the Ministry of Tourism stressed that the district by district vaccinations must include all persons involved in tourism including hotel staff, Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) drivers in national parks under Department of Wildlife Conservation and Safari Parks, Zoological gardens under the Department of Zoological Gardens, staff at tourist sites including Botanical Gardens and cultural sites,

tours guides, tourist drivers, SLTDA registered shops open to tourists, and water sport centres.

Since the outbreak of the COVID19 third wave towards end April 2021, the tourism sector was pushed to halt operations due to travel restrictions imposed to contain the spread.

While the travel restrictions were lifted on June 25, a number of establishments, including restaurants, cafes, and eateries were not permitted to allow the public into premises.