Skift Take
Thailand, Malaysia, China – and now Sri Lanka – are catching on: relaxing travel rules boosts tourism. With Sri Lanka eyeing a jump from 1.49 million visitors last year to 2.5 million this year, easing entry is their big play.
Sri Lanka is set to launch a six-month pilot program on October 1, offering free 30-day tourist visas on arrival to citizens from 35 countries, including the U.S., UK, Russia, India and China. The initiative, which temporarily waives the typical $50 visa fee, aligns with the island nation's peak travel season, lasting from December to mid-April. This move is part of a broader strategy to revitalize tourism, a sector crucial to Sri Lanka's economy.
Sri Lanka aims to welcome 2.5 million tourists and attract revenue worth $4 billion by the end of this year. Tourism arrivals peaked in 2018 in Sri Lanka, when 2.5 million tourists spent $4.4 billion in the country.
Last year in December the country finally announced its plans to roll out its global tourism marketing campaign urging tourists “You’ll Come Back For More,” marking the first such campaign since 2007.
The free visa announcement comes amid ongoing concerns over a visa scam that has sparked significant controversy. In April, the Immigration Department, replaced the state-run telecommunications company Mobitel, w