Sri Lanka Green Lights Free Tourist Visas for 35 Nations

Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved a new initiative to issue free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries, including major markets such as China, India, and Russia. This six-month pilot program, which begins on October 1, will provide tourists with 30-day visas at no cost, aiming to boost tourism and aid in the country's economic recovery.

Cabinet spokesman and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana highlighted the government's ambition to establish Sri Lanka as a "free visa country," similar to destinations like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The initiative targets a rapidly growing tourism sector as a key driver for economic revitalization.

The 35 countries on the visa-free list include key tourist markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, France, and others.

After being severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent economic crisis in 2022, Sri Lanka's tourism sector is rebounding, with nearly 2 million arrivals as of mid-August 2024. The country is on track to achieve 2.3 million arrivals by the end of the year, signaling a significant recovery in tourism.