To boost tourism and revive its crisis-hit economy, the Sri Lankan cabinet approved free tourist visas from seven countries until March 31, 2024. These countries include Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.

 

“Cabinet approves issuing of free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan,  Indonesia, and Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project [until] March 31,” Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry posted on X (formerly Twitter).

 

This initiative aims to boost the country’s economy and hit a target of five million arrivals by 2026. The country famed for its aromatic tea saw its tourism industry pummelled first by the COVID-19 pandemic and then by a severe financial crisis last year that saw mass-scale protests and shortages of essentials such as fuel.

 

But the tourism industry is seeing a turnaround in 2023 with Sri Lanka clocking a million arrivals by September, for the first time since 2019. The island is expecting to close the year at 1.5 million arrivals.

 

According to the Sri Lanka Development Authority, India is the largest source of tourists with 200,310 arrivals. The number is followed by Russia with 132,300 arrivals.

 

Sri Lanka is a tear-drop-shaped island country off the eastern edge of India. This country offers never-ending beaches, national parks, tea plantations shrouded in mist, serene Buddhist temples, and a colonial history spanning centuries for an unforgettable travel experience.