Ukrainian tourist pilot project netted Rs. 420 m: Prasanna

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at yesterday’s media briefing on the reopening of the airports and resumption of international tourism from Thursday

• Media Minister calls for all stakeholders to work together to make reopening a success

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga yesterday revealed that the pilot project of bringing leisure visitors from Ukraine has generated a foreign exchange earning of Rs. 420 million. 

Since 28 December Ukrainian International Airlines and charter carrier SkyUp have been bringing around 1,500 Ukrainians to spend short stays in isolated hotels and visits to select tourist sites adhering to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. 

The Minister disclosed the foreign exchange earnings figure during a media briefing on the planned reopening of borders and resumption of commercial flights and international tourism in Sri Lanka from Thursday. 

He said with learnings from the pilot exercise, the health and tourism authorities had come up with comprehensive guidelines to be followed by all travel and tourism stakeholders from 21 January onwards. 

New guidelines include mandatory PCR tests and insurance cover. There is no minimum stay but tourists will have to reside in safe and secure certified hotels.Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella urged all to ensure the successful resumption of tourism since the industry mad a significant contribution to socio-economic growth in the country. He said the tourism industry came to a standstill following the spread of COVID-19 and resultant closure of the airports for 10 months.