In a bid to revive its flagging tourism post the Easter-day bombings, Sri Lanka has announced free visa on arrival for tourists from India and China. This scheme will come into force from 1st August 2019. The country’s former plan to grant visas on arrival for citizens of 39 countries was suspended due to the bombings. Three churches and three luxury hotels in Colombo were bombed on 21 st April, killing 258 people, causing a setback. Originally the scheme was to come in force 1st May onwards, however, the security reasons post the traumatic incident put the plan on hold. The visas on arrival pilot programme was part of a larger initiative to increase tourist arrivals to the country during the six-month off-season period from May to October. The visa on arrival scheme has also be re-launched for the 39 suspended countries. It already allowed tourists from Thailand, the European Union, the UK, the US, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Cambodia.
Commenting on the scheme, Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Manager Northern India SriLankan Airlines said, “We are expecting an increase in the number of tourist arrivals from India and from other markets as well. Especially, after the April Easter attack, we had to take a lot of steps to boost our tourism, as a National Carrier we are excited about this new change.”
25/07/19 Seema Wadhwa/Financial Express
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Commenting on the scheme, Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Manager Northern India SriLankan Airlines said, “We are expecting an increase in the number of tourist arrivals from India and from other markets as well. Especially, after the April Easter attack, we had to take a lot of steps to boost our tourism, as a National Carrier we are excited about this new change.”
25/07/19 Seema Wadhwa/Financial Express
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