The reopening of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is set to be further delayed due to the appointment of a new committee, despite earlier reports that it would be opened in early January, according to Sri Lanka Tourism.
“A detailed Airport Opening Protocol has been developed in the last several months and presented to Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi. Another committee has been appointed today (7) to again review the protocol, which we are made to understand will further delay the airport opening,” it said in a press release issued yesterday (7).
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Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando[/caption]
Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said that the tourism authorities are unable to open the airport without the approval of the health authorities.
“This is a global health pandemic and we are guided by the health officials. Diluting the health protocols would compromise the safety of international travellers and citizens when the airport reopens. Unless the Ministry of Health gives us the approval to relax the health and safety protocols, we are unable to do so. Meanwhile, we will continue to support our stakeholders to ensure the safety of all and reach out to support you to thrive in the new normal that we face at this time.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Tourism announced that over 92 tourism establishments, accommodation providers, and tour operators have been awarded the “Safe and Secure Certification” to service and accommodate international tourists for the first 14 days so far.
Sri Lanka received the Safe Travel Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council, reflective of the sound protocol implemented by Sri Lanka Tourism. This includes the independent auditing firm KPMG inspecting the “Safe and Secure Certification” that provides global travellers with the comfort and confidence that Sri Lanka has taken all necessary steps to ensure safety.
Sri Lanka Tourism added that it continues to audit and award certifications to tourism establishments, accommodation providers, and tour operators. The audits are conducted free of charge for the first-time certification where the costs are being borne by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
The application is available online and can be accessed through https://sltda.gov.lk/safe-certification. Based on the applied date, the audit schedules will be prepared by the SLTDA and forwarded to KPMG for implementation.
Sri Lanka was one of the first in the Asian region to prepare and issue a comprehensive Covid-19 Health Protocol for the tourism industry which was developed and issued with the support of the Ministry of Health, the United Nations (UN), World Health Organisation (WHO), and the input of the industry.
Any SLTDA-registered tourism service provider from accommodations, travel agents, tour operators, tours crews (tour guides and chauffeurs), or other services can apply for the “Safe and Secure Certification”, if they are ready to be audited by KPMG. The SLTDA said auditing and certification are stringent considering the nature of the virus as compromises can be dangerous and are in line with other countries in the region.
For the accommodation sector, travel agents/tour operators, and standalone facilities, the assessments will include completing KPMG’s initial checklist/questionnaire by the relevant service provider, which will be followed by the physical on-site audit at a pre-arranged date.
Assessment of the tour crews including tour guides and chauffeurs are based on an examination conducted by KPMG to check the level of overall knowledge and awareness on the guideline contents with special attention to details in chapters three and six of the guidelines.
Sri Lanka Tourism published the “Health Protocols” for the tourism sector in June 2020 based on global best practices, giving ample time for the industry to be familiar with the guidelines.
Several training sessions were conducted on pandemic preparedness for SMEs (small and medium enterprises), designed, and rolled out together with S4IG Australia and Asian Development Bank. Covid-19 guideline training was conducted partnering with the Market Development Facility (MDF) of Australia and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL). Sri Lanka Tourism has urged all the stakeholder associations to arrange similar training programmes for its members, offering the SLTDA’s support by providing trainers who are familiar with the guidelines.
Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando[/caption]
Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said that the tourism authorities are unable to open the airport without the approval of the health authorities.
“This is a global health pandemic and we are guided by the health officials. Diluting the health protocols would compromise the safety of international travellers and citizens when the airport reopens. Unless the Ministry of Health gives us the approval to relax the health and safety protocols, we are unable to do so. Meanwhile, we will continue to support our stakeholders to ensure the safety of all and reach out to support you to thrive in the new normal that we face at this time.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Tourism announced that over 92 tourism establishments, accommodation providers, and tour operators have been awarded the “Safe and Secure Certification” to service and accommodate international tourists for the first 14 days so far.
Sri Lanka received the Safe Travel Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council, reflective of the sound protocol implemented by Sri Lanka Tourism. This includes the independent auditing firm KPMG inspecting the “Safe and Secure Certification” that provides global travellers with the comfort and confidence that Sri Lanka has taken all necessary steps to ensure safety.
Sri Lanka Tourism added that it continues to audit and award certifications to tourism establishments, accommodation providers, and tour operators. The audits are conducted free of charge for the first-time certification where the costs are being borne by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
The application is available online and can be accessed through https://sltda.gov.lk/safe-certification. Based on the applied date, the audit schedules will be prepared by the SLTDA and forwarded to KPMG for implementation.
Sri Lanka was one of the first in the Asian region to prepare and issue a comprehensive Covid-19 Health Protocol for the tourism industry which was developed and issued with the support of the Ministry of Health, the United Nations (UN), World Health Organisation (WHO), and the input of the industry.
Any SLTDA-registered tourism service provider from accommodations, travel agents, tour operators, tours crews (tour guides and chauffeurs), or other services can apply for the “Safe and Secure Certification”, if they are ready to be audited by KPMG. The SLTDA said auditing and certification are stringent considering the nature of the virus as compromises can be dangerous and are in line with other countries in the region.
For the accommodation sector, travel agents/tour operators, and standalone facilities, the assessments will include completing KPMG’s initial checklist/questionnaire by the relevant service provider, which will be followed by the physical on-site audit at a pre-arranged date.
Assessment of the tour crews including tour guides and chauffeurs are based on an examination conducted by KPMG to check the level of overall knowledge and awareness on the guideline contents with special attention to details in chapters three and six of the guidelines.
Sri Lanka Tourism published the “Health Protocols” for the tourism sector in June 2020 based on global best practices, giving ample time for the industry to be familiar with the guidelines.
Several training sessions were conducted on pandemic preparedness for SMEs (small and medium enterprises), designed, and rolled out together with S4IG Australia and Asian Development Bank. Covid-19 guideline training was conducted partnering with the Market Development Facility (MDF) of Australia and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL). Sri Lanka Tourism has urged all the stakeholder associations to arrange similar training programmes for its members, offering the SLTDA’s support by providing trainers who are familiar with the guidelines.