Thursday, August 22, 2024 Sri Lanka launches visa free travel for tourists from 35 countries, including China, India, Russia, the UK, and Germany, aiming to boost its tourism sector and revive the economy. In a bold and strategic initiative, Sri Lanka has announced the approval of free tourist visas for visitors from 35 countries, including significant markets like China, India, and Russia. This move is part of the island nation’s comprehensive plan to rejuvenate its tourism industry, which has been severely impacted in recent years, and to invigorate its ailing economy.
The decision was confirmed by Sri Lanka’s Cabinet and announced by Cabinet spokesman and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana during a weekly briefing on Thursday. Starting from October 1, 2024, tourists from the designated 35 countries will be eligible for a 30-day visa-free entry into Sri Lanka. This initiative will run as a six-month pilot program, during which the government will assess its impact on tourism and the broader economy.
The move is seen as a crucial step in positioning Sri Lanka as a more accessible and attractive destination for international tourists. “The aim of the government is to transform Sri Lanka into a free visa country, much like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, to tap into the benefits of a rapidly growing tourism industry,” Gunawardana stated. This vision underscores Sri Lanka’s ambition to join the ranks of other prominent tourist destinations in the region that hav.