Last year, Sri Lanka launched an initiative to boost tourism revenue by issuing free visas to nationals from seven key markets. After obtaining very positive results, the Asian country decided to expand its visa-free program to citizens from 35 nations starting Oct. 1, 2024.
The full list of beneficiaries includes Kazakhstan, Belgium, Thailand, Oman, Sweden, Russia, the Netherlands, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Qatar, Switzerland, Spain, Iran, France, Poland, the UAE, Austria, South Korea, Belarus, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Denmark, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Canada, Italy, the United States, India (Sri Lanka’s largest source market), the United Kingdom, Germany and China.
With this new scheme, Sri Lanka seeks to make the island more appealing to international travelers during a trial period of six months.
Tourism in this country suffered a severe setback in 2019 when nine suicide bombers from a local Islamist extremist group linked to ISIS carried out a series of devastating attacks against three Catholic churches and several luxury hotels, killing over 270 innocents and injuring more than 500, including residents and visitors.
Since then, the sector has been slowly recovering, generating up to $1.5 billion in the first semester of this year.
What does visa-free travel entail?
Traveling to a country with a visa-free travel program means you do not need to obtain a visa before departure or upon arrival. This streamlines travel and saves you some bucks on visa fees.
Why Travel to Sri Lanka in 2024?
Sri Lanka is not like other Asian countries. This small island, located in the south of India, boasts an exotic combination of sun-kissed beaches, green mountains, lush forests, and incredible wildlife, including whales, leopards, elephants and monkeys.
But that’s not all. This island also offers a myriad of adventure sports, great healthy food, and endless festivities throughout the year.
Like any other tropical destination, Sri Lanka’s weather is unpredictable, but not knowing if it’s going to be sunny or rainy can add to the adventure.
However, if you prefer dry days, visit the country between December and mid-April. But remember that airfare and accommodation prices are higher during this period because it’s Sri Lanka’s peak season.