Sri Lanka: What it's like to visit during the Covid pandemic

 

 

When I heard Sri Lanka was about to open travel, I started planning my itinerary. As an avid traveller, I always yearned to visit this South Asian gem at the tip of India. I stay in New Delhi, where the State Government has done a fair job vaccinating citizens. This has helped the capital contain the virus primarily. I had received my shots before freezing my dates to travel. The travel authorities ensured my vaccination job was done before my travel dates. I have travelled my country from many nooks and corners. And now I was about to travel internationally when the pandemic was still on. It was different, and I was curious. A two-week quarantine was mandatory.

I made sure I followed all the protocols set by India and Sri Lanka as a part of my moral duty and responsibility. I had applied for 30 days Sri Lanka tourist visa, which got approved after following new guidelines. My quarantine was scheduled in Sri Lanka as per the rules and regulations for vaccinated travellers. I was also informed that I had to take an RT-PCR test upon arrival.

Countries like Australia and China have strict quarantine regulations. Travellers under quarantine may not leave the hotel room until their PCR test result has been declared. But Sri Lanka has taken an innovative and different stance with its quarantined tourists. By following strict criteria, guests in Sri Lanka can roam around in the hotel and nearby premises and visit pre-approved bubble attractions. A guest can also opt to stay at multiple accommodations provided the hotel is level-one listed. With this, I had reserved a suite with one property in the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka and booked a room at a property on the country's western coast.

While making my bookings, I also paid for my RT-PR tests and travel insurance. This made my travel task straightforward. Keeping the above in sync with the guidelines of the travel department, I got my online Sri Lanka visa approved. I had scheduled an RT-PCR test from New Delhi through an online mode.

The day I had to travel, I was asked to reach the New Delhi International Airport 4 hours before the scheduled flight. I made sure I carried hard copies of all the mandatory documents if my phone ran out of battery or any other device malfunctioned. The airport was almost empty. Few travellers were interested in going across borders. As a result, my entire procedure at the Immigration Desk was done in 30 minutes. I was awarded the boarding pass in another 10 minutes. The airport was all dotted with new instructions, social distance signs, sanitizers at some distances. The airport staff and a few other travellers at the airport were all masked up, ensuring safe travel.

The food outlets were open to patrons, and ATM booths were fully functional but with extra care. After snacking lightly, I heard the first call to passengers travelling to Sri Lanka should queue at Gate number 3. All people present at the airport followed the floor signs to maintain distance while at the gate to board the flight. But very few of them were lined up. I thought they might be trying to reach the gate.

The masked crew of Sri Lankan Airlines welcomed me at the gate and escorted me to my seat. I was surprised to see an almost empty flight that I was about to travel. The set up of the plane seats were changed. Unlike printed material which used to be present in the seat pockets, instructions and menus were available on the screens on the back of the seats. Sanitized wipes were placed at every seat, and an alternate seating arrangement was made. And then the gates were closed as the airline was about to take off.

Upon landing, deboarding was as normal as before. I was carrying many documents but was asked only for an RT-PCR test. After verifying my tests, I was given clearance and headed to the arrivals hall. I had a representative waiting here. I was not supposed to take any public transit according to the quarantine conditions. My hotel contacted me earlier about my flight details and my transfer preferences. My cab was sanitized, and the driver was wearing a PPE kit.

The hotel staff was cooperative and alert. They followed all rules laid down by the Sri Lankan government for hotels and resorts. My luggage was well sanitized and sent to my room when I reached the hotel. After giving my nose and throat swabs for a PCR test at the hotel kiosk. I was advised to head to my reserved suite without interacting with other guests. I was served breakfast in my room until my tests were out. Neither was any housekeeping allowed to clean my room. That is pretty strict.      

I was proved lucky as my test was negative. This result infused positivity in me, and I took my resort tour. The next day my itinerary navigated me to Udawalawe National Park. It was one attraction open to passengers who were in quarantine. My safari type ride in the park was safe. The jeep has partitions that keep the visitors and driver separate. The park is one of the top tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. I had taken a detour around the park that gave me an insight into how well nature has been preserved. Sri Lanka has raised the bars of responsible tourism by handling pandemics and guarding its natural reserves well.

Sri Lanka has organized many bubble activities, which have proved successful. Tourists who tested negative and have followed quarantine regulations can safely enjoy their vacations after my great stay in the southernmost part of Sri Lanka. I headed to the western shoreline. The new travel policy of the pandemic gave me the benefit to experience Sri Lanka from different angles.

The quarantine period did not be like one. I had freedom of movement with the concept of bubble attractions, which was safe. Thanks to the extra care and safety measures that are laid down. But after the period ended, I felt that now I was on holiday. I visited three major cities on the western side of the country- Kandy, Galle and Colombo. As per the rules, I carried hard copies of all my documents during my entire vacation in Sri Lanka. The Tooth Relic Temple of Budda was relatively peaceful as few visitors were present there. I was asked for my documents at many points where local officials were deployed.

There were risks as well. As I came from a country highly affected by COVID-19, I was criticized too. Locals refrained from passing by, and some did not even respond to my smile. The pandemic has changed people a lot. The degree to which the wave has affected is deadly. Many roadside markets and street marts were deserted. Locals want you to buy their products but are also scared to talk to you. Being one of the first travellers after travel has resumed, I witnessed many economically hit businesses and locals struggle to get normalcy back to their lives. I did buy drinking water and some snacks and souvenirs, but that was not enough.

My visit to a local café was full of warmth and compassion. A mid-aged lady came up to me, greeted me with a smile and placed the menu on my table, ensuring it had been sanitized. That was something that touched me. She was brave to treat me right and serve me the world-famous Sri Lankan tea. I had an extended return back home.

 

The next time you travel, make sure you carry hard copies of your documents and practice travel advisories laid down by the local government. Vacations can be pleasant during pandemics, provided you are in sync with the rules.

 

Travel Safe!