Sri Lanka is hoping to become the fastest-growing tourism market after May this year as authorities are planning to complete the COVID-19 vaccination drive by the same month, Colombopage reported.

As the economy around the world devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka puts the revival of tourism as the key driver to prop up its economy.

“At present, we are working on the arrival of tourists from countries such as India, Germany, and Italy,” Prasanna Ranatunga, the tourism minister of Sri Lanka, was quoted as saying by The Colombopage.

“Tourist organizations are working for this. We have taken all necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the local community from the tourists as well as to the tourists from the community,” he added.

The minister further said, “This is a very special situation, especially for the tourism industry. If the Covid vaccine is given to all in the country by May, our country will become one of the safest countries in the world for tourists.”

Health officials are also making efforts to ensure tourists follow all the health guidelines by the government. Steps have taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the local population.