To encourage travel and support the country’s struggling economy, the cabinet of Sri Lanka decided on Thursday to provide free tourist visas to citizens of 35 nations, including China, India, and Russia, a senior official said. Speaking on behalf of the Cabinet, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said that 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 Cabinet Decision: Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a six-month trial scheme offering free 30-day tourist visas to travelers from 35 countries, including India, China, and Russia.
- Visa-Free Initiative: The free visa initiative starts on October 1, aiming to boost tourism and support Sri Lanka’s struggling economy.
- Government’s Long-Term Goal: Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana announced the government’s goal to make Sri Lanka a visa-free nation like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Eligible Countries: The list of eligible countries for the free visa includes major tourism markets like India, the UK, Germany, and Japan.
- Impact of Past Crises: Sri Lanka’s tourism sector was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a financial crisis in 2022, leading to widespread demonstrations and shortages.
- Tourism Recovery: Despite challenges, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has seen a strong recovery, with nearly 2 million visitors by mid-August 2023.
- Tourist Expectations for 2023: By the end of 2023, Sri Lanka expects to welcome 2.3 million tourists, indicating a positive trend in tourism recovery.
- India as Top Source: India is the top source of tourists for Sri Lanka, with 246,922 Indian visitors recorded so far in 2023.
- UK as Second Largest Source: The UK follows India as the second-largest source of tourists to Sri Lanka, with 123,992 visitors in 2023.
- Increased Tourism Revenue: Sri Lanka’s tourism earnings reached LKR 1.5 billion in the first half of 2023, showing a significant increase from LKR 875 million during the same period in 2022.
“At a weekly cabinet briefing, Gunawardana informed reporters that the government’s goal is to turn Sri Lanka into a free visa country, similar to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam so that we can capitalize on the rapid growth of the tourism industry.” The long list covers the following countries: Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, France, China, India, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, and Poland.
The tourist sector of the 22 million-person nation, which is well-known for its beaches, historic temples, and fragrant tea, was severely damaged in 2022 by two major events: the COVID-19 epidemic and a severe financial crisis that resulted in widespread demonstrations and petrol shortages. For the first time since 2019, Sri Lanka had close to 2 million visitors by mid-August, indicating that the tourist sector is benefiting from a rebound that started last year.
Also Read: Thailand’s New Visa Rules to Drive Tourism Growth
An estimated 2.3 million people are expected to visit the island by year’s end. The Sri Lanka Development Authority’s most recent statistics revealed that India is the country from which the greatest number of visitors arrive—246,922—followed by the United Kingdom (123,992). The central bank reports that during the first half of 2023, Sri Lanka earned LKR 1.5 billion from tourism, an increase from LKR 875 million in the same time the previous year.