Sri Lanka reopens borders to international travelers

(CNN) — The island nation of Sri Lanka is now open to vacationers from all international locations.

Sri Lanka Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga made the official announcement throughout a press convention on Thursday, confirming they might reopen the nation’s borders from January 21. Each of the nation’s worldwide airports reopened on the identical day.

“The livelihood of round 3 million individuals will depend on tourism in Sri Lanka,” Ranatunga instructed media. “It’s our nationwide duty to think about the wants of our residents that rely upon this business.”

As a part of efforts to forestall the unfold of Covid-19, Sri Lanka created a “bio bubble,” which is able to give guests a relative quantity of freedom to journey inside the nation whereas nonetheless observing security protocols.

Although there is no such thing as a minimal time {that a} customer should spend within the nation, anybody coming from overseas should keep in a government-approved lodge or resort for as much as two weeks upon arrival.

That signifies that vacationers solely coming for a brief journey will simply keep of their resort the whole time, whereas people who find themselves planning longer stays will be capable to transfer extra freely inside Sri Lanka as soon as they full their two-weeks of semi-quarantine.

The five-star Anantara Peace Haven in Tangalle is on the listing of authorised inns.

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle

For example, as a part of the “bio bubble,” points of interest like Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, each within the central metropolis of Kandy, require guests to return as a part of an organized tour group or with an authorised Sri Lankan information.

They need to journey in a non-public automobile and never make any unauthorized facet stops. Some websites will solely permit vacationers throughout designated time slots or on sure days of the week.

At the moment, 55 inns and resorts fall beneath the “secure and safe stage one” pointers. They don’t seem to be allowed to just accept any native company or host any occasions whereas they’re a part of the bio bubble.

With additional safety comes additional charges.

Along with paying for flights and lodging, vacationers are liable for the price of Sri Lanka’s government-sanctioned medical health insurance ($12 US) and as much as three Covid exams in-country ($40 every).

Everybody coming into the nation should present proof of a damaging coronavirus check taken inside 96 hours of journey and fill out a web-based well being declaration type. Friends will probably be examined once more at their very own expense on the fifth and seventh days after arriving and other people staying longer than seven days should take a 3rd check the next week.

As soon as the 2 weeks are up they usually have a damaging coronavirus check, vacationers can keep at their lodge or change to a different one of many authorised inns. Airbnbs, visitor homes and different types of lodging are off limits. Taking public transit is discouraged.

Sigiriya Fortress is among the many dozen or so Sri Lanka points of interest open to overseas vacationers.

ALEX OGLE/AFP/AFP/Getty Photographs

Whereas practically each nation can demonstrably present that its tourism income had taken a success amid the coronavirus pandemic, Sri Lanka has suffered from significantly unfortunate timing.