Sri Lanka Bets on Visa Fee Waiver for 40 Nations to Hit 3 Million Tourists
Photo Credit: The famous Kandy to Ella train journey in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Tourism
Skift Take
First things first: Sri Lanka isn’t going visa‑free, it’s just scrapping the fee. Free visas could help close the gap for Sri Lanka, but the country needs a consistent campaign and a story that goes beyond price.
Sri Lanka is finally moving closer to extend free visas for visitors from 40 countries, including the seven that already enjoy visa fee waiver and 33 newly-added markets.
Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said Friday that tourists from countries including the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia will soon be able to enter the island without paying visa fees. The move, he said, aims to attract more tourists, cut red tape, and send a message that Sri Lanka is open for business.
Herath acknowledged the waiver could cost the government about $66 million in visa fees but said the broader economic gains from higher tourist arrivals would more than make up for it.
But before the plan can go live, it needs clearance from the Attorney General’s office. Industry stakeholders told Skift they expect that approval to be quick and straightforward.
Skift has also reached out to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Auth
