Sri Lanka’s economy relies heavily on inbound tourism, with India accounting for the majority of tourist arrivals.
Sri Lanka has announced visa-free access for Indian tourists as part of a pilot mission that will take immediate effect until March 21, 2024.
In addition to India, six countries have been added to the list: China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand.
The country’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry made the announcement on Tuesday, Oct. 24, on social media platform X.
“The Cabinet approves the issuance of flexible visas for India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot assignment until March 31,” he said.
The move comes five days after a proposal made in this regard at a Cabinet meeting last week, aimed at granting flexible tourist visas to foreigners from five countries who intend to stop in Sri Lanka as tourists.
Sri Lanka’s economy relies heavily on inbound tourism, with India accounting for the majority of tourist arrivals.
The move is expected to provide a major boost to the crisis-hit island, which is grappling with persistently high inflation, unemployment and a deteriorating economy following the Covid pandemic.
The move aims to attract more tourists to the island nation. “We plan to increase the number of tourist arrivals to five million in the coming years,” the ministry told Sri Lankan media.
In September, India topped the list with more than 30,000 arrivals, or 26% of the total, while Chinese tourists followed in second place with more than 8,000 arrivals, news firm PTI reported presenting official figures.
Also Read | Indians dominate the list of immigrants who gain citizenship in rich countries
Apart from this, the Cabinet has also proposed in the short term an e-ticketing formula for most tourist sites in Sri Lanka.
Also Read | Bangladesh: Passenger and freight trains collide; 17 dead, more than a hundred wounded, the number of victims likely to rise
The flexible visas presented and the e-ticket formula will save money and time spent obtaining visas, he said.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
Krishnasai is a member of the WION. Es web team, a political junkie and an avid cricket fan.
Pakistan’s electoral framework and Perez agree that elections will be held on February 8 next year
Indian Prime Minister Modi and Bangladesh’s Sheikha Hasina jointly inaugurate key projects
Explained | Why does Pakistan invite 1. 7 million Afghan citizens to its territory?