Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ruwan Ranasinghe, recently announced that to attract more tourists and boost the economy, Sri Lanka will implement a visa exemption policy for citizens of an additional 40 countries. The proposal has been submitted to the Attorney General for approval, and once passed, the total number of visa-exempt countries for Sri Lanka will rise to 47.
Under the new policy, citizens of the Maldives can obtain a visa exemption for up to one year for medical treatment or rehabilitation; tourists from other countries can stay for up to three months without a visa. This move aims to achieve the target of welcoming 3 million tourists and generating $3 billion in revenue by 2025, and to attract 5 million tourists by 2028, establishing itself as a top tourist destination in South Asia.
Although the visa exemption policy will result in a loss of about $66 million in visa fee revenue, officials believe that the increase in tourist numbers will lead to higher tourism spending, ultimately achieving a net gain in revenue.
To cope with the upcoming European winter tourism peak season, the expansion project of Bandaranaike International Airport is underway, and two other international airports, Jaffna and Hambantota, will also be operational to divert tourists from India and Russia.
Additionally, the government will launch projects such as night markets and seaside promenades in Colombo to enhance tourists' stay and experience. This move signifies Sri Lanka's determination to reboot its economy with a "tourism-first" strategy.
