In a welcome move, the Sri Lankan government has announced a visa-free entry to citizens of 35 countries, including India. The rule will be applicable from 1 October 2024. According to the Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism, Harin Fernando, this visa-free entry will be valid for six months.
Indian tourists accounted for 20% of Sri Lanka’s tourist footfall in 2023. They have been the most prominent tourist group in Sri Lanka. The new rule will boost more tourist arrivals. However, this is not the first time the Sri Lankan government has made policy-level decisions encouraging tourism. Sri Lanka exempted Indian tourists from visa fees in October 2023. The policy, part of a pilot project, was extended till 31 May 2024. Tourists from six other nations (China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand) also enjoyed the visa-fee exemption. Mr. Harin Fernando has also been enthusiastically promoting tourism through roadshows in India. These interactive events are meant to encourage Indian tourists to visit and explore Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Mr. Ali Sabry noted in 2023 that India occupied a crucial place in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy. According to the Sri Lanka Development Authority, 2,46,922 Indians visited Sri Lanka in 2023. 1,23,992 tourists from the U.K. closely followed this.
Sri Lanka earned $1.5 billion from tourism in the first four months of 2024. Last year, the country had a profit of $875 million during the same time. The visa-free entry to citizens of 35 countries will help revive the tourism industry and attract more international visitors.
Apart from India, the UK, China, the US, and Germany will enjoy visa-free entry to Sri Lanka from 1 October 2024. Sri Lanka has recorded the highest number of tourists from these countries. Countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, and Thailand. Malaysia, Japan, France, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Belarus, Iran, Sweden, South Korea, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and New Zealand are also on the list.
Commenting on the new policy, Mr. Sabry welcomed the move on his social media account, “First steps towards a visa free regime !” He quoted the figures of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority to show a steep decline in tourists during COVID-19. However, the number increased from 1,94,495 in 2021 to 7,19,978 in 2022 to 14,87,303 in 2023. Noting the remarkable progress of the tourism sector, he added, “We are well on course to achieve the pre covid level.”
