Sri Lanka Implements “Safe and Secure” Initiative

Sri Lanka has adopted a “Safe and Secure” initiative as part of its ongoing efforts to prepare the tourism industry to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19. As part of this process, the SLTDA (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority) launched a special COVID-19 standard compliance; tourism service providers registered with the SLTDA can apply for this certification. As highlighted last month on the online edition of Daily FT, there has been a mixed response to this scheme; however, it also noted that at the time, more than 160 hotels had sent in requests to obtain the compliance.

At present, this “Safe and Secure” certification scheme is mainly targeting the accommodation sector be it hotels or resorts in Sri Lanka and assessing if they meet the required health and hygiene guidelines. Additionally, accommodation providers including hospitality brands such as Theme Resorts & Spas have also implemented stringent health protocols in all their properties to ensure guests have a safe stay.