Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga says tourists from 21 countries have been banned from visiting Sri Lanka due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Ranatunga said he is working together with the Foreign Ministry to lift restrictions adding a joint promotional programme has been prepared to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka from the 1st of August.
The government has also focused on strategic plans for implementing relief packages for hotels, airlines and tour organisers.
Minister Ranatunga said the country’s economy, that collapsed due to the pandemic, can be rebuilt through industries such as tourism.
The Minister issued directives to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to implement promotional programmes across the world to attract tourists to Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, new promotions in Russia and Eastern Europe are scheduled to begin next month.
