Sri Lanka Grants Free Tourist Visas to 35 Nations to Boost Tourism

Photo : Reuters

Sri Lanka Approves Free Tourist Visas for 35 Countries to Boost Tourism

COLOMBO — In a bid to rejuvenate its struggling economy and tourism sector, Sri Lanka has announced a new policy to issue free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries, including China, India, and Russia. The cabinet approved this initiative on Thursday as part of a broader strategy to revive the country’s tourism industry, which has been significantly impacted by recent crises.

Under the new policy, tourists will be granted 30-day visas as part of a six-month pilot program set to commence on October 1. This move aims to emulate successful models from countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, which have leveraged free visa policies to stimulate their tourism sectors. Cabinet spokesman and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana emphasized the government’s goal of transforming Sri Lanka into a major tourist destination with visa policies that encourage more visitors.

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The list of countries benefiting from this visa waiver includes major travel markets such as India, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and France. 

Sri Lanka, known for its picturesque beaches, ancient temples, and fragrant tea, experienced a severe downturn in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a financial crisis in 2022, which led to widespread protests and shortages of essential goods. However, there are signs of recovery. By mid-August 2024, the island nation had welcomed nearly 2 million tourists, marking a significant rebound from the pandemic’s lows. Sri Lanka is on track to achieve around 2.3 million arrivals by the end of the year.

India has emerged as the largest source of tourists, with 246,922 arrivals, followed by the UK with 123,992, according to the Sri Lanka Development Authority. The tourism sector has shown promising growth, with earnings reaching $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024, compared to $875 million during the same period in 2023, as reported by the central bank.

This new visa policy reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to leveraging its natural and cultural attractions to draw more international visitors and bolster its economic recovery.