Tika Traveller

Discover Sri Lanka & Maldives From Those Who Know It Best

Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

TikaWeeks #15-1/2021: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 14th April 2021

As a consequence of the updated health protocol for arrivals to Sri Lanka, we have made a company policy decision of only accepting bookings from customers who are fully COVID-19 vaccinated and this is now a necessary prerequisite of booking with Tikalanka. We will require proof of vaccination at some stage before you fly to continue with a booking. I hope that you appreciate our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of our customers as well as the people of Sri Lanka and Maldives.

TikaWeeks #14/2021: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 6th April 2021

Today is the 20th anniversary of the launch of Responsible Travel, which pioneered the concept of responsible travel – better holidays, better for communities, better for nature. We joined in 2005 and it was the best decision we ever made in terms of our marketing strategy. Throughout this time RT.com has been incredibly supportive and we count many of the company as friends. We would like to thank all at RT.com for their passion and commitment to spearheading responsible travel throughout the globe.

TikaWeeks #07/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 19th February 2021

Earlier this week, the Government of Sri Lanka announced that the temporary restriction on travel originating from the UK to Sri Lanka has been lifted with immediate effect.This is certainly some good news amid the many downbeat remarks from our own government ministers about the possibility of reopening foreign travel in the immediate future. However, entry to Sri Lanka is still subject to an initial 14 days stay in ‘Safe & Secure’ Certified Level 1 hotels and regular PCR tests.

TikaWeeks #03-2/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st January 2021

To date, the list of ‘Safe & Secure’ Certified Level 1 hotels in Sri Lanka runs to 55, of which 25 are offered by Tikalanka, and there are currently 17 approved tourist sites and attractions, mostly national parks and cultural sites. Let’s hope that the ongoing health audit continues apace in order to approve many more of our favourite accommodation and places to visit as ‘safe and secure’ in the near future. Visit Sri Lanka Tourism for up to date information on the things you need to know for safely travelling to Sri Lanka.

TikaWeeks #03-1/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 18th January 2021

We have now received the official Sri Lanka Tourism Safety Protocols for arranging and running holidays on the island in the near future. We are still awaiting clarification or confirmation of the finalised list of certified ‘Safe and Secure’ Level 1 hotels (the health audit is still on-going), approved tourist sites, accredited laboratories for PCR tests, and guide or driver guidelines. The safety protocols currently in place will be reviewed regularly and there will most likely be variations to these protocols as time goes by.

TikaWeeks #01/2021: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 5th January 2021

Happy New Year! I am sure that none of us are sorry to see the back of 2020 and let’s hope for better times ahead, whenever they may happen. On this note, Sri Lanka reopened its borders to international tourist flights on 27 December 2020 for a pilot scheme until 19 January 2021 to assess the feasibility of restarting tourism on the island, which is a positive sign. However, the initial health guidelines to be followed are prohibitively restrictive and will need to be relaxed significantly to encourage visitors once again.

TikaWeeks #49/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 2nd December 2020

With the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and the first vaccinations taking place in the coming weeks, there is finally an end in sight to the bizarre and unprecedented world that has defined 2020 – hurrah and huzzah! There is also tentative news that Sri Lanka will reopen its borders and welcome foreign visitors once again from the beginning of next year, hopefully from 01 January 2021. We will keep you posted with any developments.

TikaWeeks #43/2020: Maldives update

Posted by John on 23rd October 2020

Some good news to brighten up your Friday - you can plan a much-needed holiday in the tropical sun. Maldives is now exempt from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against all non-essential international travel. This is based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks. All tourists and short term visitors must present a negative PCR test for COVID-19 on arrival to Maldives. The test and negative PCR certificate must be issued no more than 96 hours prior to departure.

TikaWeeks #41/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 5th October 2020

Both Sri Lanka and Maldives have received the safe travel stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). This seal of approval helps identify destinations and businesses that have adopted a new set of global safety and hygiene protocols as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which take into account WHO and CDC advice.

TikaWeeks #39/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 22nd September 2020

Sri Lanka is still ‘closed’, with no confirmed date for reopening the country to tourism. Maldives has welcomed foreign visitors since mid-July. Tikalanka is receiving interest for holidays next year and we gratefully rebooked a few from this year. Even the customers forced to cancel earlier this year have shown enthusiasm for rebooking once the COVID-19 situation becomes manageable. I am sure that a lot of customers, new and old, will follow suit.

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