May 16, Colombo: Dhammika Wijesinghe, Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) says that foreign tourists visiting the island will be able to travel under the Biosafety Bubble System according to health guidelines.

She said the Director General of Health and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have been informed about this.

Accordingly, tourists who have arrived in the country under the Health Guidelines can now travel between the provinces through the Biosafety Bubble System, says the Director General.

However, institutions and individuals who have taken steps to bring in tourists are strongly advised to follow the health guidelines when transporting tourists through the Tourism Bubble System and strict action will be taken against those who violate those guidelines.

The tourism industry has been identified as an export industry and is included in the National Plan for Export Development. Tourist arrivals to the country have been steadily increasing since the country reopened to tourists. It was then that the third wave of Covid began.

At the same time, with the imposition of strict travel restrictions in the country, the Director General says that information has been received that tourists who came to Sri Lanka through the Tourism Bio-Bubble system are facing various obstacles in their travels.

She further said that after informing the health and security forces about this, a system has been set up for foreign tourists visiting the island to travel to specific locations without any hindrance under the Biosafety Bubble system.