With an ever-increasing list of countries unwilling to accept travellers from South Africa, it is a delight to find the rare gem of a destination that has reopened its borders to all nationalities. Sri Lanka recently reopened and is now welcoming South Africans to its shores.
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country has no restrictive quarantine in place and no minimum number of days required for a stay, but all tourists must stay at SLTDA-certified establishments for the first 14 days of their stay. Thereafter, they can move around more freely. Accommodation bookings must be done via registered SLTDA travel agencies prior to arrival, and the traveller’s itinerary will be shared by the agent with the SLTDA.Tourists are not permitted to move outside their hotels for a period of up to 14 days, except to visit Ministry of Health-approved tourist sites that are under a bio-security bubble.
All tourists entering Sri Lanka must obtain an online tourist visa before arrival. To apply for the eVisa, clients require a valid return air ticket; pre-confirmed hotel bookings at one or more SLTDA-certified accommodation establishments for the first 14 days; and a negative PCR test result taken 96 hours prior to boarding the flight to Sri Lanka. All tourists also take a PCR test on arrival at the first hotel. If the stay is longer than seven days, they must take a third PCR test if deemed necessary by the medical officer of health.
A Sri Lanka Tourism COVID-19 insurance policy is also mandatory. This can be pre-arranged by the ground handler. The entry policy costs US$12 (R186), which offers $50 000 (R775 080) of cover for a period of one month.
Travel News spoke to the Thompsons Holidays’ ground handler in Sri Lanka to understand the intricacies of these requirements. Md of Orange DMC, Manan Mahajan, explained that there was no minimum stay in place and that clients could move around Sri Lanka, provided they had a negative PCR test in their possession, but needed to stay at certified hotels for the first two weeks of their visit.
“This does not mean that there is a minimum requirement, but only that tourists' itineraries are monitored by the SLTDA for the first two weeks of arrival in Sri Lanka. Strict COVID-19 health protocols are adhered to at all the certified hotels, including screening of all guests every three days. The SLTDA continues to add more certified hotels to its list as the days go by, as more accommodation establishments complete their certification processes,” said Manan.
He added that Sri Lankan ground handlers could assist passengers with obtaining the mandatory travel insurance and could also arrange for a client to be tested again prior to departure from Sri Lanka, to meet South Africa’s COVID-19 re-entry requirements.
According to Manan, most South African travellers tend to book five- to seven-day cultural tours around the island, followed by beach stay extensions.
Ceo of Thompsons Holidays, Joanne Adolphe, said Sri Lanka was one of the destinations Thompsons was currently promoting, due to its having reopened its borders to all nationalities, including South Africans. She said the easiest way to reach Sri Lanka currently was on Qatar Airways.
“If you’re looking for a holiday that combines beautiful beaches; ancient ruins; tropical rainforests; leopard and elephant safaris; and Buddhist charm; you’ll find it on the island of Sri Lanka. This charming destination offers the perfect introduction to the Indian subcontinent. Its history, which includes British, Dutch and Portuguese influences, makes it a most fascinating place to visit. Cricket is the sport of choice and Ceylon tea is what it is most famous for,” said marketing manager for Thompsons Holidays, Celeste Muir.
