Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) in a statement yesterday extended support to the return of tourism, despite the move triggering three COVID-19 positive cases. SLAITO said it has been brought to its notice about the news of the three COVID-infected tourists among the group of Ukrainians who flew on Monday. 

“When opening for tourism we have to be prepared to handle such situations. So long as the necessary guidelines are in place and followed, it’s unlikely this can reach out to the society,” the SLAITO statement said. 

It said in a tourism bubble, 25% of the room inventory is reserved for such issues. They also have a house doctor etc. 

“For an example when repatriation flights come in, we havea more cases and they have been handled and managed well. We are hopeful that these persons also will be handled the same way,” SLAITO said. 

“Sri Lanka is not the only country having the same issues; whatever countries that are open to tourism are managing accordingly. It’s a situation where we have to strike a balance between managing the economy and controlling the COVID situation. So, this is the story about moving into the ‘New Normal’,” the SLAITO statement added.

THASL confident of SL’s ability to manage tourist COVID-19 cases