In an attempt to increase tourism and support the country’s struggling economy, the cabinet of Sri Lanka decided to provide free tourist visas to travelers from 35 nations, including China, India, and Russia, a senior official said on Thursday. According to Cabinet spokesperson and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana, a six-month trial scheme would provide tourists with 30-day visas beginning on October 1.
Sri Lanka Offers Free Tourist Visas: 10 Key Points To Know
- Sri Lanka’s New Visa Policy: Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a six-month trial scheme offering free 30-day tourist visas starting October 1, 2024.
- Target Countries: The visa-free policy applies to travelers from 35 countries, including India, China, Russia, the UK, and Germany.
- Goal of the Policy: The initiative aims to boost tourism and support Sri Lanka’s recovering economy, following the COVID-19 pandemic and financial crisis.
- Long-Term Vision: The Sri Lankan government aspires to make the country a visa-free destination, similar to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Tourism Recovery: After significant losses due to the pandemic and financial crisis, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is showing signs of recovery, with nearly 2 million visitors by mid-August 2024.
- Expected Tourist Arrivals: Sri Lanka anticipates reaching 2.3 million visitors by the end of 2024.
- India as a Key Market: India is the leading source of tourists to Sri Lanka, with 246,922 visitors in 2024, followed by the UK.
- Economic Impact: Sri Lanka’s tourism industry generated LKR 1.5 billion in the first half of 2023, a significant increase from LKR 875 million in the same period in 2022.
- Tourism Attractions: Sri Lanka is known for its beaches, historic temples, and tea plantations, which continue to attract tourists globally.
- Strategic Decision: The visa-free initiative is part of broader efforts to rejuvenate Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and stabilize the economy.
“The government’s goal is to make Sri Lanka a visa-free nation, akin to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, in order to capitalize on the advantages of a quickly expanding tourism sector,” Gunawardana said to reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting. India, China, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and France are among the many countries on the long list.
Famed for its beaches, historic temples, and fragrant tea, the nation of 22 million people had its tourist economy devastated by the COVID-19 epidemic and a major financial crisis in 2022 that resulted in widespread demonstrations and shortages of necessities like petrol. But a recovery that started last year is paying off for the tourist sector; for the first time since 2019, Sri Lanka had close to 2 million visitors by mid-August.
Also Read: Visa-On-Arrival Now Available in India For South Korea, Japan, and UAE
An estimated 2.3 million visitors are anticipated on the island by year’s end. According to the most recent statistics from the Sri Lanka Development Authority, India is the country from which the most visitors arrive (246,922), followed by the UK (123,992). As to the central bank, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry brought in LKR 1.5 billion in the first half of 2023, compared to LKR 875 million in the same time the previous year.
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