Sri Lanka Tourism will adopt a series of new scientist methods to scan tourists who will visit Sri Lanka when the airport reopens and corona pandemic subsides, said Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Kimarli Fernando.
She was speaking at the Pandemic Preparedness Course launch for Sri Lanka Tourism at Monara Restaurant yesterday.
Fernando said that for the first time robotic arms, modern quick PCR testing facilities which gives results under two hours and Apps would be used to track tourist when they arrive. The tourists would also have to apply in advance and book and pay for their hotels and would have to stay a minimum of six nights. However for business visitors it would be a shorter stay.
She also said they have also roped in smaller hotels to offer accommodation facilities for these tourists and these hotels have to apply and go through a tough procedure with KPMG similar to Singapore before receiving approval to accommodate tourists.
Asked to comment on the current leisure sector, she said that there is a steady drop like all over the world. However the hotels received some kind of relief when the government relaxed intern district travel bans especially during the week end. “It was also pleasing to note the Banquet and F&B sector receiving to some extent,” she said.
Fernando also said that local travel industry also received a surprise ‘gift’ from providing quarantine services. Also the repatriation flights brought in revenue for the industry.
She said that they will also look at new marketing campaigns and budgets and the current Cabinet approved marketing budget would be on hold at least until next year.
“I think the leisure industry would recover sooner than expected since Sir Lanka has gone though similar episodes and would bounce back with better yields and bigger numbers as and when global tourism sector recovers,” she said.
She also thanked both Australian government and Skills for inclusive growth for coming out with a Pandemic Preparedness Course which is timely and the need of the hour.
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