Sri Lanka's government has adopted a programme that will grant free tourist visas to visitors from India and six other countries, including China, Russia, and Japan. This move is part of an effort to revitalise the country's flagging tourism industry, which was severely harmed by the Easter Sunday bombs in 2019. The programme will be implemented as a pilot project until March 31, 2024, with the goal of attracting more tourists from these nations in order to enhance the economy. Sri Lanka is currently confronted with economic and political issues, including a severe shortage of basic necessities.
Indian tourists would be granted free visas to Sri Lanka.
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a policy of issuing free tourist visas to visitors from India and six other countries, foreign minister Ali Sabry said on Tuesday, amid efforts to restore the island nation's tourism sector, which is heavily in debt.
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Foreign Minister Sabry stated in a statement that this would be a pilot project that would go until March 31, 2024.
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With immediate effect, the cabinet granted free entry to visitors from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Tourists from these countries will be able to obtain visas for free when visiting Sri Lanka.
India has always been Sri Lanka's most important inbound tourism market. In September arrival figures, India led with over 30,000 arrivals, or 26%, with Chinese tourists behind in second place with over 8,000 arrivals. Tourist arrivals on the island have declined following the 2019 Easter Sunday explosions, which killed 270 people, including 11 Indians, and injured over 500 more.
Sri Lanka, which has faced extraordinary economic turbulence since its independence from Britain in 1948, is also experiencing political unrest, with protesters calling for President Rajapaksa's resignation.
Food, medicine, cooking gas and other fuel, toilet paper and even matches are in low supply due to the economic crisis.
Check More Info at Sri Lanka Site: https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainfo/shortvisit.jsp?locale=en_US
