Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday, 17 June 2021 01:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The French naval group, comprising 745 officers and personnel, left the country last week after completing an incident-free tour of Sri Lanka.
The group were members of the French Navy vessels FNS Tonnerre and FNS Surcouf and toured several tourist sites in a bio-secure arrangement.
Official ground handling agent Connaissance de Ceylan said all naval officers were PCR-tested on arrival, and upon receiving negative results, embarked on the journey of exploring Sri Lanka.
The company also said 57 individuals who were operationally involved were tested for COVID upon the completion of the tour, which resulted in negative results.
“This special incentive tour proves to be an example of how tourism can flourish under the bio-bubble concept if we adhere to the given health guidelines. Let tourism development in bio bubbles bring about positive results always and let the negative results be limited only to the PCRs,” Connaissance de Ceylan Chairman Chandra Wickramasinghe said.
The company thanked all those who carefully facilitated and supported the successful conclusion of the visit by the group.
This included the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the Navy, the Ports Authority, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Wildlife Department, Taj Bentota Resort and Spa, Marriot Weligama Bay, Amaya Lake Dambulla, Jetwing Lake Dambulla, Aliya Resort and Spa Sigiriya, transport providers, the 11 tour guides, the 30 chauffeurs, and all other operational staff.
Apart from income from the port of call, as per French Embassy sources, the tourism part of the naval group generated Rs. 125 million in foreign exchange earnings. The Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators, which welcomed the group, said it was a much-needed boost to the hard-hit tourism industry, and that the Frenchmen took up 3,000 room-nights for three days of their stay.
