Revival of tourism industry: Plans to start with small tour groups from mid-June

The Government is planning to reactivate the tourism industry within two weeks by inviting small tour groups to prepare for the tourist season ahead.

Accordingly, limited small tour groups under strict health restrictions would be accommodated from the middle of next month, Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiaarachchi said.

“The tourists will be required to carry a COVID-19 free certificate issued either by their governments or a reputed agency. On arrival they will be held back at the airport for six hours during which a PCR test will be carried out," he said.

The secretary said lab facilities would be set up at the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Mattala International Airport while assistance would also be sought from private hospitals.

Under the scheme, individual tourists would not be entertained, but only small tour groups would be allowed.

He said the tour groups would be allowed to stay only in five-star hotels which also would have to obtain a clearance certificate that necessary precautions had been taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The tourists will not be allowed to get off the buses midway and will be able only to visit selected destinations where they could avoid crowds,” Mr Hettiaarachchi said.

The tourists would allowed to visit sites such as the Yala national park, Udawalawe, Arugam Bay, Trincomalee and selected beach areas.

Under the plan, visiting tourists would be subjected to a second PCR test to determine whether they had been infected with COVID- 19, he said. The temperatures of the members of the tour group would be monitored daily.

He said the preparations were seen as a plan to open up the country for more tourists by July and thereafter for the tourist season.

The proposals were discussed at a meeting presided over by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and attended by stakeholders in the tourism industry.