Sri Lanka tourism looks to the skies for hope

Hotels are clinging onto their last ray of hope - the reopening of the airport to commercial flights - as their only form of business from locals is also hampered as a result of border health checks.

Authorities have stated that the Sri Lankan skies will open to commercial flights officially from January 23 allowing tourists to visit the destination again.

However, the regulations as recommended by the Health Ministry continue to be seeing more and more changes. Just when the January 6 set of regulations were considered the latest it was found out that a new set with more changes was to be forthcoming within the past few days.

Hoteliers are facing an issue with the new regulations as one of the key requirements is that any hotel operating as a Level 1 category receiving foreign tourists that have to stay for their first 14 days cannot entertain any Sri Lankans during this time frame. At present 41 hotels are Level 1 approved places of accommodation.

Travelling under a bubble concept tourists must adhere to the regulations and cannot mingle with the Sri Lankans until the 14 days are concluded.

Jetwing Symphony Chairman Hiran Cooray told the Business Times that he believed Sri Lanka will receive a few tourists at the start. He noted that they had already received inquiries but no bookings have been made as yet.

But the latest concern is the fact that hotels that were able to generate some income from domestic tourism are being hampered since health officials continue to warn against travel outside of the Western Province particularly during the long weekends.

In fact, the border checks have continued to act as a deterrent among most resulting in no bookings being made by those who are willing to travel, Mr. Cooray noted.

Fo r m e r Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Mahen Kariyawasam explained that commercial flights will get an allotment of seats in line with the number of tourists they can bring down.

He noted that all airlines will continue to operate to Colombo and that they were all awaiting confirmation.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Tourism officials have been engaging with the German Travel Association to announce the opening up of Sri Lanka for tourism.

Sri Lanka is expected to bring down the first batch of German tourists shortly in coordination with the Sri Lankan embassy.

Germany is one of the traditional markets for tourism in Sri Lanka and in this respect the authorities have been highlighting the guidelines within which travellers could be welcomed.(