Sri Lanka mulls extension of visa-free access to Indian tourists

Posted on:
Key Points

Travel to Sri Lanka could remain easy with the island nation considering an extension on the visa exemption status for Indian tourists beyond March..

India holds the position of being Sri Lanka's primary source market, playing a crucial role in the country's recovery from recent challenges...

The pilot project, announced last year, running until March 31, 2024, offers free visas for the first 30 days of stay..

The aim is to establish Sri Lanka as a readily accessible destination for Indian tourists, allowing them to enjoy a hassle-free holiday by simply walking into the country...

The decision to offer visa exemption is driven by the country's attempt to increase footfalls, particularly among those who make spontaneous travel plans and might find the visa application process cumbersome..

You might be interested in

Jaishankar urges Indians to visit Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep mentioned in Budget amid row with Maldives

01, Feb, 24

In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said projects for port connectivity, tourism infra & amenities will be taken up on Indian islands including Lakshadweep.

Colombo gears up for the largest Indian tourism conference

05, Jul, 23

The profound historical bond between India and Sri Lanka, which dates back several millennia, contributes to the immense importance of the 67th TAAI Convention. | Travel

Sri Lanka not averse to using Indian rupee as common currency: President

16, Jul, 23

Sri Lanka would want to see the Indian rupee used as much as the US dollar, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said, days ahead of his first official visit to New Delhi.

Indigenously-built Indian naval ship to visit Sri Lanka

29, Jul, 23

​​The visit is significant in view of the potential for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for augmenting the capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy for efficiently addressing shared challenges for maritime security in the region, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement on Friday.

Surging demand for UK visas: VFS Global to open visa processing centres in smaller Indian cities - details here

11, Dec, 23

VFS Global plans to open temporary visa processing centers in smaller cities in India, including Allahabad, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Dehradun, and Indore

Malaysia scraps visa requirements for Indian tourists. Check details

26, Nov, 23

Malaysia, following suit of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, will scrap entry visa requirements for Indian citizens starting from 1 December to boost its tourism industry.

Maldives feel the pinch as Indian tourists shun island country in 2024: Report

14, Mar, 24

India has slipped to sixth position in 2024 compared to being a topper in visitor numbers in 2023.

China's Sri Lanka radar plan likely to threaten India's strategic assets

07, Apr, 23

The proposed radar will also be able to track US military activities in Diego Garcia. The Aerospace Information Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences could be involved in this project in the jungles near Dondra Bay of Sri Lanka, ET has learnt.

Iran announces visa-free entry for Indian tourists, but conditions apply

06, Feb, 24

The government of Iran has announced a visa-free policy for Indian citizens in a bid to boost its tourism industry. However, the Islamic country has laid down four conditions for the same. Here's all you need to know.

India's growing middle class poised to transform travel landscape

21, Jan, 24

Globally, the middle class is already the largest spender. India is expected to become the fourth largest global spender on travel by 2030, and by then the middle class, with increased purchasing power, will make 47% of its population, say reports by Booking.com-McKinsey & Company, and People Research on Indias Consumer Economy-Indias Citizen Environment (PRICE-ICE), respectively.