Sri Lanka Tourism to formulate US$ 100 million insurance fund to further strengthen tourism sector
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga has stated that Sri Lanka Tourism will soon formulate a US$ 100 million insurance fund to pay compensation to any tourist who suffers injury or death while visiting Sri Lanka.
The Minister has been quoted in the local media as saying that they will offer this tourism insurance scheme with Sri Lanka Insurance.
Amaratunga has noted that due to travel advisories from 38 countries in the aftermath of Easter Sunday bombings on April 21, tourists who visit Sri Lanka are not eligible to receive insurance from their respective countries.
“Therefore we have now decided to launch a special insurance scheme to pay compensation claims for tourists from US$ 100,000 to 250,000,” the Minister has told the state owned English newspaper, Daily News.
Amaratunga has reiterated the assured that the security forces have given a guarantee that the terrorism threat has now been neutralized and Sri Lanka is a safe place to travel.
“We see around 2,000 tourists still visiting Sri Lanka on a daily basis. We are now once again talking to foreign embassies in a bid to tone down some of the travel advisories,” he has said.
The Minister has further noted that several MICE events planned in Sri Lanka will be held this year and Sri Lanka Tourism will participate in 38 international travel fairs and 18 road shows in 2019 to boost the image of Sri Lankan Tourism.
OSL take:
The formulation of s US$ 100 million insurance fund for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector would help build confidence among tourists visiting the island nation as well as foreign businesses/investors looking at investing in the country. While tourists have already started to return to the country, tourism authorities have commenced a promotional campaign as well. Given the signs of a quick bounce back to normalcy shown by Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore business/investment opportunities in the country’s tourism sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/16052019/Z_4 |