Sri Lanka scraps visa fees, resumes online applications to simplify travel

Sri Lanka is taking aggressive steps to boost this struggling tourism sector. As per the latest news reports, it has now taken the much required step to reintroduce its online visa application platform. This move follows the suspension of a controversial multimillion-dollar outsourcing agreement previously awarded to a foreign consortium, VFS Global, based in India.

If reports are to go by, Sri Lankas newly elected President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, announced this decision to resume the online visa service, as part of a broader effort to streamline the entry process for tourists. Its expected that this move will stimulate the nation’s economy, which has been grappling for a long time.

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Reports further add that the process was earlier stopped as the outsourcing arrangement came under scrutiny, following allegations that the contract was not awarded in a transparent manner. Concerns over the deal suggested that the consortium had the potential to earn as much as $2.75 billion over a 16-year period. After this Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court intervened, and ordered immigration authorities to revert to the online visa application platform that had been in place before the outsourcing agreement with VFS Global.

Tourists will now be able to apply for visas without the $25 fee previously imposed, a decision welcomed by many in the tourism industry.

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The reintroduction of the online visa system is part of a wider strategy to make travel to Sri Lanka more convenient and attractive for foreign tourists. The government has also launched a visa-free initiative for citizens of 35 countries, including India too. The new policy, which is set to take effect from October 1, will last for six months and is aimed at increasing the number of tourists visiting the island nation. Ministry of Tourism adviser Harin Fernando stressed that the initiative will stimulate allowing more tourists to explore the beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and beautiful beaches.

Sri Lanka has mostly been the favourite of international tourists, and now with the introduction of the latest reforms, it is poised to position itself as a tourist-friendly destination, and simplify travel for visitors. By addressing the concerns of the visa application process, this island nation has made it clear that its all set to boost tourism by focusing more on international tourists.