5-year plan to revive COVID-hit tourism industry

• Ukrainian tour operators assure support to revive Sri Lanka’s tourism industry 

 

Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said a five-year plan will be implemented to revive tourism in Sri Lanka.

He made these remarks at a meeting held with the Ukrainian tour operators at the Hilton Hotel in Ukraine recently.

A high-ranking Sri Lankan delegation was in Ukraine to participate in a tourism promotion program jointly implemented by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

During the meeting, the Minister appreciated the support extended by Ukraine to launch the pilot project by Sri Lanka in December last year, at a time when the world had not thought of implementing such bold initiatives amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 150 tour operators from Ukraine, Regional Cooperation State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, State Ministry of Aviation and Export Development Additional Secretary Sunil Gunawardena, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando, and Airport and Aviation Services (Lanka) Ltd. Vice President Rajiv Sooriyarachchi were also present at the discussion.

A total of 2,258 tourists from Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan arrived in Sri Lanka through this pilot project implemented under the bio-bubble and only nine of those tourists were confirmed to be infected with the virus. The infected tourists have returned to their home country after receiving treatment and recovery.

Speaking at the event, Ukrainian State Agency representative Mariana Oleskiu assured to support Sri Lanka to revive the dynamic and diverse tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

The Minister explained how the tourism industry had resumed in the wake of the pandemic, following the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the methods of operation. 

Ranatunga said the Government intends to develop the tourism industry in a non-viral manner, especially to the public, tourists and the industry stakeholders.

“As a first step, the Government has focused on ensuring the health of the Sri Lankan people and making the vaccination program a success. The Government was able to provide both doses of a vaccine to over 10 million people,” he said.

Introducing Sri Lanka as a country that prioritises health, safety and wellbeing of its people, the Minister said that Sri Lanka will continue to operate in the face of the current surge in COVID cases in the same manner as it did during the Civil War.

Having explained at length the healthcare systems in the country, Ranatunga said that Sri Lanka is ready to welcome more tourists.