According to a top official, Sri Lanka’s cabinet granted free tourist visas for 35 nations, including China, India, and Russia, on Thursday in an attempt to increase travel and support the country’s struggling economy.
Free Tourist Visa To UAE and Indians
According to Cabinet spokesman and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana, a six-month pilot program will begin on October 1st and grant 30-day permits to tourists.
At a weekly cabinet meeting, Gunawardana informed reporters, “The government wants to make Sri Lanka a visa-free country, similar to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam so that it can capitalize on the rapidly expanding tourism sector.”
India, China, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and France are all on the long list.
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Famous for its beaches, historic temples, and fragrant tea, the 22 million-person nation’s tourism sector was severely damaged by the COVID-19 epidemic and a severe financial crisis in 2022 that resulted in widespread demonstrations and shortages of basic supplies like fuel.
However, a reversal that started last year is paying off for the tourism sector, as Sri Lanka had almost two million visitors by mid-August for the first time since 2019.
At the end of the year, the island anticipates 2.3 million visitors.
According to recent data from the Sri Lanka Development Authority, India is the top source of tourists, accounting for 246,922 arrivals, followed by the UK with 123,992.
Sri Lanka’s central bank reports that the country’s tourism revenue increased from $875 million to $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024.
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