Sri Lanka is likely to extend visa exemption status for Indian travellers beyond the earlier mentioned 31 March 2024 as a thank-you gesture for Indian passport holders as they helped boost the country’s economy following a political and economic crisis in the island nation. The move, according to Tourism and Lands, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Harin Fernando, would ensure repeat travellers and would encourage more Indian tourists to experience the vibrant landscape of Sri Lanka.
In the first 11 months of 2023, the Sri Lankan tourism industry experienced significant growth, culminating in tourist arrivals totalling 1.27 million, generating $1.8 billion in revenue. Recent statistics from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) indicate a substantial 78.3% surge in tourism income from January to November 2023, compared to the corresponding period in 2022.
All through 2023, around 2.09 lakh Indian travellers visited Sri Lanka, followed by Russians (2,09,146) and Chinese tourists at 1,87,118. In October 2023, Sri Lanka waived visas for Indian passport holders to boost tourism and pull the country out of a prolonged economic crisis.
After speaking at OTM in Mumbai on February 8, 2024, Fernando said in a post on X, "India is our number one source market and tourists from India helped our country on its path of recovery from the recent crisis we faced." Sri Lanka facilitated visa-free entry for Indian travellers from December 2023 to March 31, 2024. "We are working on extending it beyond March. We want to make Sri Lanka an easily accessible destination for Indians, who can just walk into our country for a hassle-free holiday," he said.
He added, "We are opening visa exemptions for more countries. However, we are working on extending this and India is on the top of the list of countries. I hope we will be able to grant India visa status," he added. India is the number two source for Bali, and for the overall footfalls of the country, India is number six and with such a huge population, it provides a large market with great potential, he added.
The 3-day OTM in Mumbai saw over 1,600 exhibitors participating from 60 countries and 30 Indian states and Union Territories.
Meanwhile, in November 2023, Sri Lanka greeted 151,496 international tourists, representing the highest monthly influx for the year. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority highlighted the importance of tourism as a leading foreign revenue source, reporting cumulative tourist arrivals of 1.27 million until November 2023.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
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