Sri Lanka is now open to travelers “” no quarantine, but no mingling with locals too

Sri Lanka is now open to travelers “” no quarantine, but no mingling with locals too

To quarantine or not to quarantine “” that is the question.Or at least it has been for countries deliberating how to handle incoming international travelers.But that changed last month when Sri Lanka reopened its borders with a requirement unlike any country that had opened before it “”  one that neither grants travelers free rein of the island nor boxes them into a hotel room for two weeks. Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando referred to it as a "new concept" developed by the tourism authority “” which allows tourists to travel the country in "bio bubbles," or roving semi-isolated groups that let travelers sightsee without mixing with the local population.The rules apply for the first two weeks of their stay.

Rules of the 'bio bubble'

When Sri Lanka reopened its borders on Jan. 21, it became one of very few Asian countries “” including the Maldives “” to allow international travelers to enter without being subject to strict quarantines.But tourists aren't exactly free to go where they choose. Sri Lanka's "bio bubbles" allow holidaymakers to move around the island provided they:·         Stay in approved hotels·         Visit approved sites at specific times·         Travel via independent transportation·         Undergo frequent Covid-19 testing, and·         Refrain from intermingling