SLTDA requests relaxed health guidelines to accommodate Russian tourists

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairperson Kimarli Fernando (second from left), Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage during promotional campaign in Russia

• Forwards a series of requests to MoH asking to relax health guidelines 
• Urges need to tweak existing guidelines to generate “desired” results
• Wants removal of requirement of PCR test 72 hours before boarding for fully vaccinated travellers

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) this week put forward a series of requests to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to relax the health guidelines imposed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, an effort to make the island nation more appealing to mainly Russian and other tourists.

SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando on September 7, in a letter, formally requested MoH Director General Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena to tweak the guidelines so that the local tourism industry can get the “desired” results, as discussed at a meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 
last week.

Fernando pointed out that the needs that require to be addressed are: (1) Removal of the requirement of wearing PPE for flight crew who are fully vaccinated, (2) removal of the requirement of PCR 72 hours before boarding for fully vaccinated travellers, (3) removal of PCR for children 12 years and below, in line with the EU regulation and (4) allowing rapid tests for fully vaccinated passengers on the tourist route and to be conducted at the airport.

Fernando pointed out that Russia has a population of over 144 million, with nearly 25 percent of its total population vaccinated and is a key source market for Sri Lanka.

Fernando, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya are currently in Russia to promote tourism.