By Skandha Gunasekara
With the Government hoping to open the country to foreign tourists from January 2021, The Sunday Morning took a closer look at the methodology, precautions, and measures being taken by authorities to revive international tourism in the country while ensuring no further outbreaks of the coronavirus.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarlie Fernando said the hotel industry had already been prepped for the arrival of foreign tourists amidst the pandemic.
“We have taken all the necessary steps needed to ensure that the industry is ready to start as soon as the health services give the green light. Firstly, we have already issued a guideline to the industry informing them of the Covid-19 health protocol. That was implemented already around May/June this year. We got input from the industry and finalised that.”
The guidelines include instructions on how and what needs to be done in terms of disinfecting, housekeeping, banquets, etc., as well as mandatory requirements of doing PCR tests on all staff members, on-call in-house doctors, etc.
“Second, is that we have already appointed KPMG as an independent auditing firm to audit the hotels based on that guideline. Third, KPMG has already audited and passed around 60 companies. There were some who did not pass and they will have to reapply and be reaudited. With regard to the auditing, the process is that you have to apply to get the certification and then KPMG visits, after which they will do a proper detailed report and grade you.”
She said the hotels that have passed the audit had been issued a certificate which included a QR code. “Through this QR code, guests can provide input to us – the regulator – if they have any concerns. They can communicate with us and it will provide us valuable customer feedback.”
Opening of the airports was the next major step and this too had been carefully considered.
“A document has already been prepared in this regard under the leadership of the health services. What has been agreed so far is that foreigners must apply for their visa online. They will have to download the Sri Lanka Tourism app which requires the individual to input information such as where they plan to stay.”
She said the hotels had been categorised to streamline the mandatory 14-day quarantine period and that the app would be a virtual and instant go-between for the tourist and the SLTDA.
“The hotels have also been categorised as level 1 and 2. Level 1 hotels must be either on the beach or have independent villas. This is for social distancing reasons. A level 1 status hotel can take a guest as soon as he or she arrives. The app will also inform the guest of a number of conditions of their stay proposed by the health services. One is that they must stay a minimum of 14 days under quarantine at a level 1 hotel. When you arrive at the airport, a PCR or an antigen test will be conducted. Transport to the hotel will be arranged either by the hotel you booked or through the travel agent that was used – no public transport can be used.”
Fernando said that guests would not be confined to their rooms during the quarantine period and that the minimum 14-day stay at the specific hotels must be booked and paid for before their arrival in Sri Lanka.
“At the quarantine hotels, the guests will have the freedom to move around within the premises of the hotels and need not be constrained to their rooms like the Sri Lankan repatriates have to. However, a three-metre distance must be observed between guests at all times. They must book and pay for the hotels prior to arriving in the country. Upon application of Sri Lankan visa, we will send via drop box the level 1 hotels which are available.”
The Sunday Morning was able to obtain a draft of the guideline, prepared by the Covid-19 Clinical Management Expert Committee of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the SLTDA, which elaborates on the various measures touched on by the SLTDA Chairperson.
According to the document, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is to reopen for tourists, resident holders, dual citizens, business travellers, and any Sri Lankans who opt to follow this protocol and arrive.
However, the BIA would be reopened in a phased-out manner, with no more than 300 arrivals per day during the first phase.
The Mattala International Airport (MRIA) would be exclusively used for repatriation flights with first preference being given to the repatriation of citizens back to Sri Lanka.
Prior approval of the Covid Taskforce and the Civil Aviation Authority will be required for scheduling flights, charter flights, private jets, and all flights that will bring international tourists, while the limit of 300 arrivals per day at the BIA would be co-ordinated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
All tourists and those arriving opting to follow tourist protocols will be required to stay a minimum of 14 days in the country and should adhere to the respective airline protocol before departing.
All tourists are to be monitored and contact traced and tourists who test positive for Covid-19 at any point and are asymptomatic, will be directed by the medical staff at the hotel to an isolation room in the hotel that has already been booked or treatment/isolation centre of a hospital if symptomatic. Costs would be borne by the individual tourist medical insurance and/or from the Covid insurance.
It is mandatory for all passengers arriving as tourists or who opt to follow the tourist protocol to have medical insurance before arrival. It is also mandatory to have an Covid-19 insurance policy from an insurance company based in Sri Lanka, obtained online during the visa application process or via the Tourism Travel App.
In the event any who opt to follow the tourist protocol fall ill during the 14-day stay, they would be admitted to University Hospital KDU (Kotelawala Defence University) in Boralesgamuwa. If the illness occurs after the 14 days, the individual can select a private hospital and costs are to be borne by the individual.
To obtain a visa, it is mandatory to have a prepaid hotel booking at a KPMG-certified safe and secure level 1 hotel accommodation for the first seven days of the stay.
The individual will not be permitted to leave the hotel premises within the first seven days.
The remaining mandatory seven days could be enjoyed at a level 1 or level 2 hotel.
Between the eighth and 14th day, the guests would be permitted to visit selected tourist sites accompanied by a registered tour guide.
From the 15th day onwards, guests are free to book any type of accommodation or return to their homes.
Level 1 hotels – all KPMG-accredited hotels. Beach properties and independent accommodation (villas) only. Hotel exclusively for international guests on seven-day quarantine and outside vendors or guests not permitted. Guests will have no movement outside the hotel.
Level 2 hotels – all KPMG-accredited hotels. Those who have completed seven days in a level 1 hotel are permitted to stay in any level 2 hotel or can continue to remain in a level 1 hotel. Limited travel to selected tourist sites.
Level 3 hotels – all hotels, homestays, and establishments. For those who have completed a 14-day stay in Sri Lanka. Guided tours encouraged and no additional restrictions and domestic tourism permitted.
PCR testing
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarlie Fernando said the hotel industry had already been prepped for the arrival of foreign tourists amidst the pandemic.
“We have taken all the necessary steps needed to ensure that the industry is ready to start as soon as the health services give the green light. Firstly, we have already issued a guideline to the industry informing them of the Covid-19 health protocol. That was implemented already around May/June this year. We got input from the industry and finalised that.”
The guidelines include instructions on how and what needs to be done in terms of disinfecting, housekeeping, banquets, etc., as well as mandatory requirements of doing PCR tests on all staff members, on-call in-house doctors, etc.
“Second, is that we have already appointed KPMG as an independent auditing firm to audit the hotels based on that guideline. Third, KPMG has already audited and passed around 60 companies. There were some who did not pass and they will have to reapply and be reaudited. With regard to the auditing, the process is that you have to apply to get the certification and then KPMG visits, after which they will do a proper detailed report and grade you.”
She said the hotels that have passed the audit had been issued a certificate which included a QR code. “Through this QR code, guests can provide input to us – the regulator – if they have any concerns. They can communicate with us and it will provide us valuable customer feedback.”
Opening of the airports was the next major step and this too had been carefully considered.
“A document has already been prepared in this regard under the leadership of the health services. What has been agreed so far is that foreigners must apply for their visa online. They will have to download the Sri Lanka Tourism app which requires the individual to input information such as where they plan to stay.”
She said the hotels had been categorised to streamline the mandatory 14-day quarantine period and that the app would be a virtual and instant go-between for the tourist and the SLTDA.
“The hotels have also been categorised as level 1 and 2. Level 1 hotels must be either on the beach or have independent villas. This is for social distancing reasons. A level 1 status hotel can take a guest as soon as he or she arrives. The app will also inform the guest of a number of conditions of their stay proposed by the health services. One is that they must stay a minimum of 14 days under quarantine at a level 1 hotel. When you arrive at the airport, a PCR or an antigen test will be conducted. Transport to the hotel will be arranged either by the hotel you booked or through the travel agent that was used – no public transport can be used.”
Fernando said that guests would not be confined to their rooms during the quarantine period and that the minimum 14-day stay at the specific hotels must be booked and paid for before their arrival in Sri Lanka.
“At the quarantine hotels, the guests will have the freedom to move around within the premises of the hotels and need not be constrained to their rooms like the Sri Lankan repatriates have to. However, a three-metre distance must be observed between guests at all times. They must book and pay for the hotels prior to arriving in the country. Upon application of Sri Lankan visa, we will send via drop box the level 1 hotels which are available.”
The Sunday Morning was able to obtain a draft of the guideline, prepared by the Covid-19 Clinical Management Expert Committee of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the SLTDA, which elaborates on the various measures touched on by the SLTDA Chairperson.
According to the document, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is to reopen for tourists, resident holders, dual citizens, business travellers, and any Sri Lankans who opt to follow this protocol and arrive.
However, the BIA would be reopened in a phased-out manner, with no more than 300 arrivals per day during the first phase.
The Mattala International Airport (MRIA) would be exclusively used for repatriation flights with first preference being given to the repatriation of citizens back to Sri Lanka.
Prior approval of the Covid Taskforce and the Civil Aviation Authority will be required for scheduling flights, charter flights, private jets, and all flights that will bring international tourists, while the limit of 300 arrivals per day at the BIA would be co-ordinated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
All tourists and those arriving opting to follow tourist protocols will be required to stay a minimum of 14 days in the country and should adhere to the respective airline protocol before departing.
All tourists are to be monitored and contact traced and tourists who test positive for Covid-19 at any point and are asymptomatic, will be directed by the medical staff at the hotel to an isolation room in the hotel that has already been booked or treatment/isolation centre of a hospital if symptomatic. Costs would be borne by the individual tourist medical insurance and/or from the Covid insurance.
It is mandatory for all passengers arriving as tourists or who opt to follow the tourist protocol to have medical insurance before arrival. It is also mandatory to have an Covid-19 insurance policy from an insurance company based in Sri Lanka, obtained online during the visa application process or via the Tourism Travel App.
In the event any who opt to follow the tourist protocol fall ill during the 14-day stay, they would be admitted to University Hospital KDU (Kotelawala Defence University) in Boralesgamuwa. If the illness occurs after the 14 days, the individual can select a private hospital and costs are to be borne by the individual.
To obtain a visa, it is mandatory to have a prepaid hotel booking at a KPMG-certified safe and secure level 1 hotel accommodation for the first seven days of the stay.
The individual will not be permitted to leave the hotel premises within the first seven days.
The remaining mandatory seven days could be enjoyed at a level 1 or level 2 hotel.
Between the eighth and 14th day, the guests would be permitted to visit selected tourist sites accompanied by a registered tour guide.
From the 15th day onwards, guests are free to book any type of accommodation or return to their homes.
Level 1 hotels – all KPMG-accredited hotels. Beach properties and independent accommodation (villas) only. Hotel exclusively for international guests on seven-day quarantine and outside vendors or guests not permitted. Guests will have no movement outside the hotel.
Level 2 hotels – all KPMG-accredited hotels. Those who have completed seven days in a level 1 hotel are permitted to stay in any level 2 hotel or can continue to remain in a level 1 hotel. Limited travel to selected tourist sites.
Level 3 hotels – all hotels, homestays, and establishments. For those who have completed a 14-day stay in Sri Lanka. Guided tours encouraged and no additional restrictions and domestic tourism permitted.
PCR testing
- A mandatory PCR test report taken by an accredited laboratory taken 72 hours before arrival at the port of entry. This report is to be produced along with the boarding pass and at the health counters at the airports.
- On arrival, an antigen and/or PCR test will be conducted by the Ministry of Health at the airport.
- Once the on-arrival antigen test or PCR test is certified negative, tourists will be transported to the pre-paid and booked resort/hotel.
- Transport to be arranged by hotel/travel agent strictly following Covid-19 health protocols.
- PCR tests must be conducted in 5-7 days and if deemed necessary, an additional test in 10-14 days after arrival and arranged by the respective hotel.
- All PCR test results will be shared with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and in the event a tourist tests positive, the Ministry of Health to decide whether isolation in the hotel already booked or intermediate care centre or quarantine hotel or hospital (depending on each case).
- All related costs to be borne by the international guests via their personal medical insurance and/or Covid insurance. Close contacts will be isolated as decided by the health authority for a period of 7-14 days either within the hotel already booked or as deemed necessary by the health officials.