Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved the issuance of free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries, including China, India, and Russia, starting October 1st. This move is part of a six-month pilot program aimed at boosting tourism and revitalizing the country’s struggling economy.
Under this program, tourists will receive 30-day visas. Cabinet spokesman and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana announced the initiative, stating that the government’s goal is to transform Sri Lanka into a visa-free destination similar to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, leveraging the growing tourism industry.
The list of countries benefiting from this program includes India, China, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and France.
Sri Lanka, known for its beautiful beaches, ancient temples, and aromatic tea, has been recovering from severe setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a financial crisis in 2022 that led to widespread protests and shortages of essential goods.
The tourism sector has shown significant improvement, with nearly 2 million arrivals by mid-August, the highest since 2019. The island nation is projected to end the year with 2.3 million visitors.
India remains the largest source of tourists, with 246,922 arrivals, followed by the UK with 123,992, according to the latest data from the Sri Lanka Development Authority. The tourism sector earned $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024, up from $875 million during the same period last year, as reported by the central bank.
