Overview
If information from publications is to be believed, tourists from six additional nations—China, Malaysia, Russia, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand—will now be eligible for free tourist visas. This program is a part of an effort to revive the debt-ridden nation’s tourism industry after Easter Sunday bombs in 2019 severely affected the number of visitors.
Sri Lanka is offering dual entry status on arrival to travelers from India and six other countries, with a 30-day stay restriction on their visa, in an effort to stimulate its tourism industry and draw more tourists.
In light of this, the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Sri Lanka has declared the launch of a new program that would provide free tourist visas to Indian visitors, who make up the majority of those entering the island nation. This action, which is a component of a larger plan started by a cabinet decision, will take effect right now.
If information from publications is to be believed, tourists from six additional nations—China, Malaysia, Russia, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand—will now be eligible for free tourist visas. This program is a part of an effort to revive the debt-ridden nation’s tourism industry after Easter Sunday bombs in 2019 severely affected the number of visitors.
The action is especially important in light of the country’s economic difficulties, which include a financial crisis and shortages of basic supplies including fuel, food, medication, and cooking gas. The International Monetary Fund had already decided to provide Sri Lanka a USD 3 billion bailout in March in an attempt to address these problems.
The recently launched pilot program, which runs through March 31, 2024, provides complimentary tourist visas for the first 30 days of stay. Upon arrival, travelers with dual entry status from India and the other six selected countries will have advantages. It is crucial to remember that the duration of the visa is limited to a 30-day visit to Sri Lanka.
India has always been Sri Lanka’s main supplier of foreign visitors, and the country’s recent arrival statistics highlight this fact. October 2023 saw the highest number of arrivals from India, accounting for approximately 28,000 people and 26% of all arrivals.
This calculated action seeks to improve economic activities in Sri Lanka’s beleaguered tourism sector in addition to drawing more visitors, which will help the country recover economically and militarily.