Sri Lanka permits quarantine free entry to travellers who are fully vaccinated
Sri Lanka Tourism has further eased travel restrictions for foreign by permitting fully vaccinated international travellers who have received the second dose of the vaccine 14 days prior to arrival now being allowed to enter the country without undergoing quarantine.
While several restrictions remain for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated visitors, those who have been “double-jabbed” will have travel restrictions eased – this includes entry into the island without a period of quarantine other than the 24 hours required to stay in a Safe and Secure Level 1 hotel until the on-arrival PCR test results are available. Once the “Day One” PCR test report is negative, travellers will be able to leave the Level 1 hotel and enjoy their holiday, and they will be required to undergo a PCR test once again on the seventh day during their travels at a Ministry of Health-approved laboratory, The Morning has reported.
All other visitors travelling as tourists who are either partially vaccinated or not vaccinated will have to follow standard procedure of quarantining in a Safe and Secure Level 1 hotel for up to 14 days, depending on the vaccination status and the duration of stay.
Discussing the long-awaited re-opening, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando has been quoted as saying, “Under the current regulations, all visitors to the island, whether foreign travellers or citizens, have been subject to stringent regulations. These measures have helped curb the spread of the pandemic while preventing new variants from entering the island. With the success of the national vaccination rollout programme, we are ready to commence operations as usual for fully vaccinated arrivals, and the tourism industry is well prepared to welcome our international travellers while ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
Travellers who have received the recommended dose of Covid-19 vaccines must carry their original vaccine certificate card. If their certification is in any language, other than English, an authorised translation of their vaccine certificate must be produced along with the original certificate, the news report further noted.
OSL take:
The decision by the government of Sri Lanka to further ease travel restrictions on foreign tourists to the country will further woo visitors to the country. Sri Lanka’s airports have also received the internationally recognised safety and hygiene certification that has further increase the island’s attraction as a travel destination in post Covid travel. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country when the global Covid 19 pandemic brought about global travel restrictions. However, the industry is once again on the path to recovery while recording a steady growth in tourist arrivals to the country. Business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is once again on an expansion path.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210719/Z_4 |