SL to discuss with 21 countries to lift travel ban on tourists

27 July 2021 03:42 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 13 Bookmark

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Minister Prasanna Ranatunga today said the Tourism Ministry together with the Ministry of External Affairs was working on removing the travel restrictions imposed on the entry of tourists to Sri Lanka.

The minister said that 21 countries have currently banned travel to Sri Lanka due to the Covid-19 situation.

He said he hoped to hold discussions with Norway, Bahrain, Nepal, Japan, France, Australia, New Zealand, Qatar and Vietnam through the Ministry of External Affairs.

In addition, the Minister said that he had instructed the Tourism Promotion Bureau to implement worldwide promotional programs to attract tourists to Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, it was decided to launch new promotional programs in Russia and the Eastern European market from next month.

This was revealed during a special discussion held at the ministry to implement an action plan to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka.

The Minister said that this special promotion program would be implemented from August 1.

Minister Ranatunga said that the government hopes to end the Covid-19 vaccination drive in Sri Lanka by the end of September this year.

He said the government hopes to vaccinate 60% of the total population by then.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)

Comments - 13

German Tuesday, 27 July 2021 04:12 PM

You might get lucky with Eastern European countries like Hungaria, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine....Because they don't care about the risk of Covid 19. But only maffia people from those countries can afford a trip to Sri Lanka.

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Nish Tuesday, 27 July 2021 04:23 PM

Why do you charge a huge visa fee from them? If you are begging countries to send tourists, beggars can't choose. Tgst visa fee is a big barrier for tourists as they end up spending a lot of money when they are in SL. First, get rid of the fee.

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British Tuesday, 27 July 2021 04:26 PM

Discuss with UK too. Most countries wont consider until UK holds Sri Lanka in the red list. If UK moves SL to their amber list, then that can send a very positive signal to others.

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European Tuesday, 27 July 2021 05:06 PM

Sorry, but the UK is not a great example for most European countries.

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German Tuesday, 27 July 2021 05:15 PM

UK is on our red list too

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vithura Tuesday, 27 July 2021 06:04 PM

As most of its citizens' preferred tourist destination being Southern Europe, moving Sri Lanka to the amber list will not be its priority and the use of ineffective vaccine unfortunately weakens Sri Lanka's case even further.

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Joshua Tuesday, 27 July 2021 05:12 PM

Why have to controlled the Covid thru computer gilmarts?

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Geetanjali Mishra Tuesday, 27 July 2021 05:30 PM

What about India ?

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Bandara Tuesday, 27 July 2021 05:54 PM

This country is ruled by the bunch of clowns. They have no clue about how to handle a pandemic or economics. When health authorities warns about up coming fourth wave, they play fool here. What a bunch of clowns are they? Let health authorities handle the situation. Go away from peoples lives.Go to hell.

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Siri Tuesday, 27 July 2021 07:10 PM

With only the beauty and the rich history to show off thanks to nature and our ancestors respectively, every single other consideration is deplorable and obscenely expensive. Slash Visa fee by half, reduce entrance fees by 50% at least, to spread the good word. Here they kill the goose... by ripping off tourists to the bone.

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ravin Tuesday, 27 July 2021 07:25 PM

Dose this guy have any idea of what is going around world? 4th wave of Covid-19 variant is spreading in Europe and rest of the world. Doesn't he know money is not the only thing in this world. Can Sri Lanka afford to face the situation where Covi-19 spreading go out of control ? After 4-6 weeks 3rd wave spreading reported in Europe only we got the 3rd wave.

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Silva Tuesday, 27 July 2021 08:35 PM

several valuable comments are found here. The government is ripping off tourists is very true. The Visa fee's are exorbitant, they should at least cut down by 50%. A initial 6 month should be offered instead of 30 days. Further the entrance tickets of the famous sites like Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Parks etc. have to be adjusted to something like 5 USD, as they are around 25-30 USD. It's a real rip off what the tourist experience and of course more and more declining to come. These is actually the homework before someone approach other countries and ask tourists to come again.

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Chux Wednesday, 28 July 2021 06:57 AM

First manage the situation within your country pls adhere to that then international community will consider Sri Lanka as a destination

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