Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has requested Ministry of Health to relax COVID-19 prevention health guidelines in order to attract an accommodate tourists from Russia.
In a letter to Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, SLTDA Chairperson Kirmali Fernando said that Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga, State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and she are currently in Russia to promote tourism.
She requested Dr. Gunawardena to tweak the guidelines so that the local tourism industry can get the “desired” results for tourism as discussed at a meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held last week.
The needs that require to be addressed are removing of wearing of PPE requirement for flight crew who are fully vaccinated, removing the requirement of PCR 72 hours before boarding for fully vaccinated travelers, removing PCR for children 12 years and below, in line with EU regulation and allow rapid test for fully vaccinated passengers on the tourist route and to be conducted at the airport, Fernando said in the letter.
Russia has a population of 144 million and 25 per cent of the population has been vaccinated, she said.
