No lockdown travel restrictions for tourists

• SLTPB says a communiqué issued by DG Health allows fully vaccinated tourists to move out of travel bubble
• Says same applies to tourists who have completed 14-day quarantine
• SLTPB Acting MD says tourists face no restrictions in crossing provinces and they can book into any tourist hotel

Quoting a health communiqué issued by Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, on September 3, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) yesterday in a statement said the prevailing lockdown and travel restriction rules would not apply to international tourists visiting Sri Lanka. 

According to the communiqué, the SLTDA said the tourist hotels would be permitted to accommodate ‘fully vaccinated tourists’ and ‘tourists who have completed 14-day quarantine within the bio-security travel bubble.’ Fully vaccinated tourists and those who have completed 14 days in the bubble are free to move out of the bubble and visit other areas of the country. Accordingly, they are permitted to book into any tourist hotel. 

The travel bubble operates with safe and secure Level 1 and Level 2 hotels for non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated tourists.

“All fully vaccinated foreign travellers and those visitors who have completed their 14-day quarantine are allowed to leave the bio-bubble. The lockdown imposed by the government does not apply to the foreign tourists. This means that there are no restrictions for crossing provinces. Besides, such travel restrictions do not apply to international tourists, like it does for locals,” said SLTPB Director PR/Acting Managing Director Madubhani Perera. 

However, Perera on Monday told Mirror Business that the travel restrictions imposed by the government islandwide are still applicable to the incoming travellers.

“This health communiqué clearly identifies that the lockdown and travel restrictions imposed in the country for locals do not hinder any tourist travel engagements, as they will be allowed to roam across the country freely.
The health communiqué further highlights the measures applicable to tourist hotels that provide services to foreign tourists. The tourist hotels can accept tourists with Vaccination Certificate and/or Discharge Note issued by either the SLTDA, hotel doctor or hotel management,” the SLTPB statement said.  

“Further, it notes that the tourists who have completed their mandatory quarantine period, as per the regulations, can enjoy the facilities of the hotel. Such international tourists are also permitted to visit sites, in transport organised by the relevant hotel.

The SLTPB works in collaboration with the health authorities to achieve corporate ideals and national goals,” it added.