Sri Lanka Tourism expects to woo 800,000 visitors during 2021
After the country re-opened its borders on the 21st of January this year, 9,629 visitors were recorded in the first quarter of this year ending March. A total 4, 581 tourists (ave.148 per day) arrived in March, which is an increase over the 3,366 (ave.120 per day), who came in February.
Sri Lanka’s Presidential Task Force for Tourism (PTFT) in their infinite wisdom and available data, has set a target of 800,000 foreign tourist arrivals for 2021. Although we concede that anything is possible in a realm of endless possibilities, in these uncertain times, people need strong, clear and consistent messages. What they don’t need are policy moves which are made to please the beaurocrats whilst ignoring the ground realities. Be that as it may…be prepared for a revision around mid-year.
We foresee a total of around 30,000 total arrivals by mid-year. Should everything stay on track, i.e. diminished COVID-19 cases, increasing numbers of the population being vaccinated and more airlines touching down, one can hope to see a robust Q4 with demand for rooms rising for the year-end and the Christmas and New Year period. Aiming to achieve 350,000+ tourist arrivals for the year 2021, will be more realistic, despite the challenges ahead.
Sri Lanka has removed the quarantine requirement. However, visitors should posses a visa to enter the country, present a valid PCR test taken 96 hours before arrival, have a confirmed hotel booking (in a ‘safe & secure’ COVID-19 certified hotel), where they have to stay for two weeks. During their 14-day stay, they will undergo PCR tests on Day: 01, Day: 05 and on Day:10 – all of which will be done at the visitor’s expense. In addition, each visitor must purchase the mandatory COVID-19 insurance cover, worth US$ 50,000 for hospitalization and/or medical bills, valid for one month and costing US$ 12.00 per person.
On 18th March, it was announced by the Ministry of Health, that tourists to Sri Lanka who have received both doses of any COVID-19 vaccine, can arrive two weeks after the second jab, and will need only to stay in the same hotel until the completion of the seventh day. They can visit approved sites within the bio-bubble and after testing negative to the 2nd PCR test, can leave their hotel and make arrangements with their travel agent/s.
Already, Hotels are scrabbling for the very little business there is, by offering free PCR tests and COVID-19 Insurance to all foreign visitors who opt to stay in their properties. A visitor taking two PCR tests and purchasing the mandatory insurance cover will need to fork out nearly US$ 100. It is left to be seen whether hotels are really absorbing this cost or are factoring it in the packaged hotel stay rate to recover it from the guest?
As much as those in positions of leadership and influence recognized the importance of tourism for jobs, economies and rebuilding trust, they must do everything they can to get people travelling again, following and implementing all the protocols which are part of the new reality.
Over the next few quarters, we expect tourists to prioritize destinations that have vaccinated most of their population and which have successfully managed through COVID-19. The speed of rolling the vaccine in tourism destinations will have a crucial impact on people traveling again.
Shafeek Wahab - Editor, Hospitality Sri Lanka, Consultant, Trainer, Ex-Hotelier
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