Sri Lanka to target high-spending tourists to revive tourism

Sri Lanka will target high-spending tourists to revive the tourism sector which has been shattered by the coronavirus pandemic, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said.

Widespread travel restrictions and the closure of airports and national borders to curb the spread of the virus had plunged international tourism into its worst crisis.

During a meeting with the members of the newly-appointed Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication, Gotabaya Rajapaksa said tourism sector which make a huge contribution to the national economy should be revitalized to suit the changing situations.

He proposed that Sri Lanka take steps to issue visas with a recognised health certificate when tourists begin to return to the island country, the Colombo Gazette reported.

He also proposed that Sri Lanka Tourism target countries where the coronavirus has been contained.

The president emphasised the need to focus promoting medical tourism by highlighting the "successful efforts taken by Sri Lanka to contain the spread of the coronavirus."