UK travel update: Amber list scrapped in overhaul of travel rules in England

The international travel traffic light system is being simplified in England with a single red list, as part of an overhaul of the rules from 4 October. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also said eight countries would be taken off the red list from Wednesday. It means people returning from places such as Turkey will no …

Sri Lanka Tourism bats big on global promotions, plans roadshows in India

In a bid to spread awareness on the reopening of Sri Lanka for Indian travellers, the Consulate of Sri Lanka in Mumbai along with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) organised a webinar for the Indian travel trade where the tourism board reiterated the importance of Indian market and shared dialogue on the new protocols required …

Red list countries: Full list of UK hotel quarantine destinations and what changed at latest travel update

Arrivals from red list countries must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days at their own cost, and take two Covid tests By David HughesSeptember 12, 2021 8:13 am(Updated 11:48 am) The latest changes to the UK’s traffic light system of travel restrictions were announced on 26 August. The three-tier measures separate countries into a green, amber and red list of destinations, each carrying different …

Advance PCR lab at BIA for inbound foreign tourists

A PCR testing laboratory was established at the airport premises to perform PCR tests and issue reports in three hours for foreign tourists arriving in the country via Katunayake International Airport. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and other senior officials from the airport paid an inspection tour today at the airport. At least 3,000 tourists arrive …

Sri Lanka Tourism begins search for global marcom firms

Calls for bids by 5 Oct. to select 8 Destination Representative Companies and PR firms each to handle 16 countries $ 2.25 m contract for each DRC, $ 750,000 for each PR firm Funds to be allocated through SLTPB DRCs to focus on UK, Germany, France, India, China, Australia, Russia and the Middle East PR …

Russia-SL launch joint tourism programme

Travel agencies to set up bilateral communications Direct flights from September BY Dinitha Rathnayake The joint tourism programme between Sri Lanka and Russia has been launched, and accordingly, the Russian Government has announced that it fully supports the promotion of Sri Lanka as an attractive tourist destination among Russian tourists. Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga, …

Elephant gives birth to twins at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

An Elephant named Surangi from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, has given birth two baby elephants. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in its Facebook page said that ‘Both calves are male’. The first calf is born at 4 am and the second calf after 10 am. This is the first semi-domesticated twin elephant birth in the history of …

Sri Lanka to issue 6-month tourist visas for those applying through electronic system

The Sri Lankan government has decided to issue six-month visas for tourists applying through the electronic system, local media reported Wednesday. Officials said the move is a follow-up to a cabinet decision taken on Jan. 4 to link a mobile app created by Sri Lanka Tourism to the visa application process implemented under Sri Lanka’s …

CNN Travel highlights SL tourism campaign

The global promotion campaign which has been executed by Sri Lanka Tourism has been able to receive international media attention despite the ongoing pandemic. An expose on CNN Travel by Henry Golding, star of the hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, featured the island while giving the country much recognition. Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando outlined: “The efforts …

Sri Lanka-Tiruchy flights to resume from September 2

SriLankan Airlines has decided to resume operations at the Tiruchy International Airport from September 2, bringing cheer to the travel and tourism industry as the flight used to get good response in the city. The Lankan Government recently relaxed travel regulations for fully-vaccinated (one who has taken the second shot of COVID vaccine at least …