Sri Lanka to attract long stay tourists by issuing six month visas
The government of Sri Lanka has decided to attract long-stay travellers by issuing tourist visas valid for six months to those applying via the electronic system.
The Cabinet of Ministers had decided earlier this year to link the Sri Lanka Tourist Mobile App to the visa application process implemented under the Department of Immigration and Emigration through its ‘Online Electronic Tourist Visa Activation’ (ETA) system.
Accordingly, the applicable visa charges for a six-month stay are as US$ 70 for tourists from SAARC countries, US$ 85 for those from non-SAARC countries and US$ 50 for tourists from Singapore, the Maldives and Seychelles (as per the bilateral agreements signed with those countries).
The proposal was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers by Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are engaged in an aggressive promotional campaign in the tourist markets as well as introduce attractive promotional offers jointly with the country’s national carrier, SriLankan Airlines. The island is in the process of returning to normalcy after facing the impact of the global Covid 19 pandemic that brought about global travel restrictions. Sri Lanka has recorded a steady growth in tourist arrivals to the country with international airlines also increasing the number of flights operated to the country. Also, Sri Lanka has been listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications and the country’s airports have received the internationally recognized safety and hygiene certifications making the island an attractive destination in post Covid travel. With Sri Lanka’s tourism industry also looking at promoting new tourism concepts in the country, the industry has presented many attractive business/investment opportunities.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/31082021/Z_3 |