Sri Lanka approves free visas for India, 6 other countries
Sri Lanka's government has reportedly greenlit a proposal to offer free visas to tourists from seven countries, including India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. The announcement was made by Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry on Tuesday. The pilot project will be effective immediately and run until March 31, 2024. It is reportedly aimed at attracting more visitors to the island nation while helping them save time and money on visa applications.
Why does this story matter?
Notably, the aforementioned nations are close allies of Sri Lanka, and some are its main bilateral lenders. Last year, Sri Lanka faced its greatest economic crisis since independence, owing to a lack of foreign currency and vital commodities, sparking widespread demonstrations. These countries assured the island nation moratoriums, opening the path for the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s $2.9 billion bailout. The IMF rescue is aimed at aiding its recovery from bankruptcy and generating more money for debt restructuring.
Sri Lankan foreign minister's announcement on X
Targeting 5 million tourist arrivals: Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry
According to Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry, the motive behind the free visa initiative is to boost the number of tourists arriving in the country. "We are expecting to increase tourist arrivals to five million over the coming years," it stated, as reported by local media. Just last week, the Tourism Ministry revealed that a proposal to provide free tourist visas for visitors from five countries was discussed in a cabinet meeting before being extended to include seven nations.
E-ticketing system for tourist sites
Alongside the visa waiver, the Sri Lankan cabinet reportedly proposed implementing an e-ticketing system for tourist places in the country. A cabinet paper outlining these proposals was reportedly presented jointly by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, and Sabry. This move is anticipated to enhance the tourism experience in Sri Lanka further and elevate its status as a sought-after destination.
