The government in a bid to attract more airlines and additional flights would be introducing a series of concessions for international airlines at the Colombo International Airport soon.
These include special concessions on ground handling, fuel charges as well as a waiver of the embarkation tax from US$ 60 to 40, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga said.
“These proposed concessions will help more international airlines to look at Sri Lanka more positively,” the Minister said.
Amaratunge also disclosed that the ‘free visa on arrival’ facility which was offered to Thailand and stalled due to the Easter blasts would be effective soon.
As part of the collaborative effort, a MoU was signed between Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to promote bilateral tourism between the two countries.
“Thailand Tourism too has faced similar experiences (Easter Sunday blasts) and recovered quickly to attract even greater numbers has agreed to share expertise with regard to crisis management and recovery strategies”. Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Kishu Gomes said that tourism arrivals are now picking up and all adverse travel advisories, except Russia are been toned down. “This arrival trend is getting stronger and we have set an arrival target of 5 million for 2025.”
He also said that a two month global promotional campaign by an international agency with expertise to handle the present Sri Lanka situation after the Easter Sunday blasts will soon get underway. “The security situation is now totally under control and there would not be any more coordinated attacks”.
Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn said that the industry attracted over US$ 90 billion revenue last year and over 60,000 Sri Lankans visited Thailand last year. “We will collaborate with Sri Lanka Tourism to expedite the tourism recovery programe following the Easter Sunday incidents”.
Ambassador of Thailand, Chulamanee Chartsuwan said that Buddhist trail in Sri Lanka along with many natural places would be popular attractions for Thai tourists in Sri Lanka.”
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