A five year plan will be implemented to uplift the tourism industry affected by the Covid pandemic, said the Minister of Tourism,Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga in Ukraine.
The Minister also stated that the aim of this plan implemented by the government is to build and uplift the tourism industry in the next five years in the face of Covid pandemic situation and after the pandemic.
The Minister of Tourism stated this during a meeting with the Ukrainian Tour Operators at the Hilton Hotel in Ukraine recently (10).
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga had gone to Ukraine to participate in a tourism promotion campaign jointly organized by the Tourism Development Authority and the Tourism Promotion Bureau of Sri Lanka.The Minister appreciated the support extended by Ukraine to the Tourism Pilot Project implemented by Sri Lanka during the Covid-19 outbreak at the meeting with tour operators in Ukraine.
A total of 2258 tourists from Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan arrived in Sri Lanka through this pilot project implemented under the Travel Bubble System and only nine of those tourists were confirmed to be infected with the virus. The infected tourists have returned to their home countries after receiving treatment and recovery. The Minister explained how the tourism industry had resumed in the wake of the pandemic, adhering to the instructions and guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and methods implemented in countries where tourism has resumed.
—Sri Lankan Government intends to develop the tourism industry in a safe manner that the virus is not infected from tourists to the public and vice versa. As a first step, the government has focused on making the vaccination program a success ensuring the health of the Sri Lankan people. Accordingly, it is a great achievement for the Government of Sri Lanka to be able to provide both doses of the Covid vaccine to over one million people,˜ he said.
Introducing Sri Lanka as a country that prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of its people over other countries in the region, the Minister said that Sri Lanka will continue to operate in the face of the current situation in the same manner as it did during war time in Sri Lanka. The Minister recalled that many countries had introduced Sri Lankans as a humble and selfless nation by assisting foreign sailors who faced health problems in Sri Lankan waters under the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
The system, which is being implemented for tourists visiting Sri Lanka during the Covid pandemic, provides immediate health assistance to tourists in need of health assistance. Explaining at length the health care practices adopting in the country, the Minister said that Sri Lanka is ready to welcome tourists to Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Mariana Oleskiu of the Ukrainian State Agency said that Ukraine assists Sri Lanka to boost Sri Lanka's tourism industry.
Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Regional Cooperation, Mrs. Kimali Fernando, Chairperson of the Tourism Development Authority, Chairman of the Tourism Development Authority, Mr. Rajiv Sooriyarachchi, Vice President of Airports and Aviation Service Ltd, Mr. Sunil Gunawardena, Additional Secretary, State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zones Development and about 150 Tour Operators of Ukraine were also present on the occasion.
