Sri Lankan government to implement visa on arrival programme for 39 countries from August1
The government of Sri Lanka has reportedly announced that a decision has been reached to implement the proposed visa on arrival programme for tourists arriving in the island from 39 countries from August 1st.
The move is aimed at boosting tourist arrivals to the country.
The visa on arrival programme was initially planned to be implemented on May 1st, but was suspended following the Easter Sunday attacks.
“Earlier we had the Cabinet approval for a number of countries other than India and China. Due to the Easter Sunday terror attacks, we had to temporary suspend it until the country bounced back to normal. On Monday I had a chat with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and he said to prepare a Cabinet paper to revive the previously suspended Cabinet paper,” Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga has told the media.
However, the Minister has noted that the government would introduce a tracking system to ensure that no “undesirable people” would enter the country.
“There were a few aspects that they are concerned in implementing the free visa-on-arrival. We have to see whether there are undesirable people who come into the country and make use of this opportunity. Therefore, whilst revival of previous Cabinet paper is being done, we have to find ways and means on how to track those passengers who are coming to Sri Lanka. We are trying to develop a separate platform in order to ensure that no unwanted people make use of this opportunity and create problems in Sri Lanka,” the Minister has added.
According to Amaratunga, the revival Cabinet paper will be drafted soon as a joint Cabinet paper by the Ministry of Tourism Development and Ministry of Internal and Home Affairs.
“We want see whether it will beneficial or whether we will lose revenue. We will wait and see. If it goes well, we will extend it to China and India as well,” he added.
OSL take:
The Sri Lankan government’s decision to implement the visa on arrival facility for 39 countries from August 1st would give a definite boos to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. The relaxing of travel advisories on Sri Lanka by foreign countries, the attractive packages/deals offered by Sri Lanka and the visa on arrival facility offered by the country would definitely attract tourists to the country. Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have been steadily increasing since the month of May. Also, the incentives and rate slashes offered by the Sri Lankan government targeting the tourism industry has made the sector an attractive business/investment opportunity for foreign businesses/investors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/10072019/Z_4 |