Sri Lanka gets Safe Travels Stamp from international tourism body

Sri Lanka has been endorsed as a destination following approved hygiene and safety protocols by World Travel & Tourism Council, a private global tourism industry body, with the country also keeping Coronavirus at bay.

“Having one of the world’s highest success rates in combatting Covid-19, positions Sri Lanka as an exemplary destination for safe travels,” Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Kimarli Fernando said.

“Restarting operations of the tourism and hospitality sector for international visitors after the Covid-19 lockdown is a strategic one for the country, and we extend our gratitude to Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts for initiating the process that led to Sri Lanka being stamped safe by WTTC.”

Sri Lanka and Granada are the latest destinations to get the Safe Travels stamp from the WTTC. The organization says the standards are based on World Health Organization and Centres for Disease Control guidelines.

SLDA said the protocols involved Operational and Staff Preparedness, Ensuring a Safe Experience, Rebuilding Trust & Confidence and Implementing Enabling Policies.

The SLTDA is now working on providing the safety stamp to all travel and hospitality related assessing their compliance to Covid-19 standards which had been validated by the WTTC.

“The safety stamp will have a two-fold benefit both as a value addition to business entities and an assurance for travellers coming to Sri Lanka in a post Covid-19 world,” Sri Lanka Tourism said.

“The stamp represents a critical step in rebuilding consumer confidence in Travel & Tourism and allowing travellers to rest easy knowing that enhanced standards of hygiene are in place and they can once again experience ‘Safe Travels’,” Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO said.

Indonesia, Dubai, Tanzania, Portugal, Mexican Caribbean, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Turkey, Bulgaria, Jamaica, Mauritius, Ontario, Saudi Arabia and Rwanda have to the stamp.

Source: https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-gets-safe-travels-stamp-from-international-tourism-body-72832/