Sri Lanka is set to open its doors to international tourists on August 1, along with specially drafted guidelines and ‘Safe and Secure’ certificates to ensure healthy travel as the country reconnects with the world. But stakeholders have mixed sentiments about the new guidelines that could discourage mid and low-end tourists that the industry relied upon over the years.
After months of staying under a curfew imposed to manage the spread of Covid-19, the country was back in business for tourism with the reopening of some hotels and restaurants towards end May along with the easing of curfew hours. Now, domestic and international tourists can visit the national parks that are due to open on Monday (15).
International airports are also preparing to welcome foreign travellers . “We are getting ready to facilitate visitors by August 1 as planned by the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. We are setting up all the equipment now,” Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri said.
In addition, a laboratory will be set up at the Bandaranaike International Airport to conduct PCR tests on visitors. Chandrasiri said all facilities (as required by Health Ministry protocols) will be ready by end July. “It is a little difficult to open the airport before that,” he added.
According to the new guidelines set by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), visitors should provide a negative PCR report taken within 72 hours before entering the country, a second PCR test done at the airport, a repeat PCR test done with 5-7 days of arrival in case the guests develop Covid-19-like symptoms and a final test done from the 10-12 day of the stay if the tourists stay for over ten days. Tourists have to also commit for an at least five-day stay here and pre-book the tour at a SLTDA registered and ‘Safe and Secure’ certified establishments. Visitors will also have to obtain an online tourist visa before arrival.
The Sunday Observer learns that the visa fee will remain at USD 35, and a separate fee of USD 65 will be charged at the airport to conduct the PCR tests. Excess charges incurred in conducting the PCR tests will be borne by the SLTDA.
Tourism is a pivotal foreign exchange earner in the country. It brought in USD 4.38 billion in 2018 and USD 3.61 billion in 2019.
The industry was showing signs of booming as the country was named a key destination for travel by publications such as the Lonely Planet.
In an article CNN Travel named Sri Lanka as one of the best 20 places to visit in 2020.
“The South Asian island nation of Sri Lanka is as ancient as it is beautiful; as complex a civilisation now as at any time in its 2,000-year history. Despite recent tumult (the horrific terrorattacks last Easter), Sri Lanka remains an essential destination, an epicenter of history, with relics and ruins, temples and palaces, wildlife running free,” it wrote.
Twin catalyst
The travel trade came to a standstill when the international airports shutdown in a worldwide bid to tackle the spread of Covid-19. No tourist has entered the country since April as a result.
Closure of airports came as a double-blow to the industry that was healing from last year’s Easter Sunday bombings.
In January this year, the difference in tourist arrivals, from the same period last year was 6.5 per cent and in February it was 17.7 per cent, and in March hiked to 70.8 per cent as Chinese travellers (major tourist exporter to Sri Lanka) was affected by the pandemic.
In May last year, soon after the terrorist attacks, tourist arrivals also fell by 70.8 per cent ended the year with a gap of 18 per cent compared to 2018.
Veteran hotelier and former president of The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Hiran Cooray said the country will not witness the same number of tourist arrivals as it did in 2019. “Last year was not that good for tourism but this year is worse. We will get some tourists coming in after travel restrictions are lifted,” he said. He is also doubtful if high-end tourists will enter the country anytime soon.
“These are usually people who are over 55 years. They are reasonably vulnerable (for contracting Covid-19). They will not fly out just like that,” he said.
“Kill tourism in Sri Lanka”
Speaking to the Sunday Observer on condition of anonymity an official attached to the SLTDA said the “Sri Lanka Tourism Operational Guidelines with Health Protocols” was compiled in a bid to encourage more high-end tourists.
The idea, she said, was that high-end tourists will be more cautious when travelling. However, Managing Director of Hotel Topaz and the Tourmaline, Anura Basnayake said that this assumption was “stupid”.
Basnayake’s trade suffered during the Easter Sunday bombings. He had to slash prices of services offered at his hotel by 40 per cent. He has done the same to recover from the effects of the pandemic. The tourism expert, who has 40 years of experience in the industry, said the guidelines need to be revisited and changed.
“Hats off to the President, health officials and the military - the coronavirus was controlled well.
But it is no guarantee that high end tourists will start to travel soon,” he said.
A tourist, according to the guidelines, is expected to stay a night at a ‘Safe and Secure’ certified accommodation after arriving in Sri Lanka till the results of the PCR test is released. In the first phase ‘SLTDA registered five/four-star category hotels and boutique villas/hotels will’ are eligible to apply for this certification.Basnayake said all measures to ensure safety of people should be followed at all times, and travel agent clients will adhere to guidelines.
“But (SLTDA released) guidelines will put us in trouble.
It will kill tourism in Sri Lanka because we don’t have the assurance that the tourists they are targeting will start travelling soon,” he stressed.
Bouncing back
People attached to the industry directly and indirectly are hopeful that the industry will bounce back.
Senior tourism academic Dr. Mubarak Kaldeen said he sees demotivation among students to study tourism and hospitality because it is vulnerable to external factors.
“But tourism will bounce back when this situation normalises. People will start travelling,” he added.