SL should open country to tourists once UK, EU start vaccination: Prasanna

Friday, 4 December 2020 01:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister tells Consultative Committee on Tourism vaccination program for COVID-19 pandemic is a positive move
SLTDA Chairperson says tourism app will ensure safety for tourists
Says in talks with India to promote new tourist sites in NE after Batti MP Rasamanickam calls for blueprint

Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga

Sri Lanka should consider opening the airport for tourists once the UK and Europe commence the COVID-19 vaccination program, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga said yesterday.

Speaking at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Tourism, the Minister said the start of the vaccination program was a positive sign and it was important to move ahead with tourism amidst COVID-19.

The Ministerial Consultative Committee chaired by Ranatunga was attended by MPs including Geetha Kumarasinghe, Diana Gamage, M. Udayakumar, Chandima Weerakkody, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Madura Vithanage and Premitha Bandara Tennakoon.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando told the Committee that Sri Lanka had created the first-ever mobile app to assist tourists. She said the app consisted of an ‘emergency button’ where the location of the tourist would be shared with the nearest Police station. Version one of the Sri Lanka Tourism travel app is scheduled to be made available by the mid-2021.

Addressing the Committee Batticaloa MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam highlighted the need for a blueprint to develop tourism in the north and the East as it lacked tourist attraction to a large extent. He also proposed to initiate the Talaimannar ferry service for the purpose of developing tourism.

The SLTDA Chairperson stated that they had already identified 4,956 new sites including the Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka and had already spoken to the Indian Ambassador to promote it in India. Minister Ranatunga suggested that a separate meeting be held to discuss the developments pertaining to the north and the east.

Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Major General G.A. Chandrasiri stated that two separate cubicles had already been established to facilitate first class passengers and business class passengers and it would operate as soon as the airport reopened.

He stated this in response to the issue raised by MP Diana Gamage with regard to the long queues passengers have to experience at Immigration.

Hotels welcome early resumption of tourism, but urge Govt. to address urgent issues