Sri Lanka now has highest visa costs in Asia: Tourism stakeholders

Colombo, May 03 (Daily Mirror)- Tourism stakeholders said Sri Lanka now has the highest visa costs in Asia, creating a significant barrier for tourists compared to competing destinations like Thailand, Vietnam and many others that offer free visas or charge much lower fees. 

In a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, they urged him to intervene and restore a competitive and user-friendly visa process through a government-operated website, similar to the previous ETA system, to enable a tourist to obtain the necessary 30 days, single entry visa with ease.

They said the tourism industry, a key pillar of Sri Lanka's economic recovery, is aiming for 2.3 to 2.5 million tourist arrivals in 2024 and that these visa changes threaten this goal. 

"The abrupt fee increase and complicated process are likely to deter tourists, potentially reducing arrivals to below 2 million. We cannot therefore help but wonder your excellency, whilst yourself together with the tourism authorities and industry led by the Minister, are working tirelessly to rebuild, that some elements, from within your government, are trying to disrupt the progress," the statement added.

"We, the industry want to bring to your attention recent changes in the tourist visa process for visiting Sri Lanka. On April 16, 2024, the Controller General of Immigration issued a notice suspending the Government ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) website. Consequently, visas will now be processed exclusively through a private company-operated website at https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/ starting April 17, 2024.

"We have raised our concerns with the  Minister, who has assured us that a single-entry tourist visa will be made available for USD 50 inclusive of all charges by May 01, 2024. However, the application process remains complex and unfriendly, with additional fees likely to apply.

There has been a significant increase in the cost of tourist visas, with the new private website not offering the previously available single-entry tourist visa with a 30-day validity. Instead, only a more expensive six-month multiple-entry visa is currently available at a total cost of USD 100.77 due to additional service and convenience fees.

A recent study indicates that Sri Lanka now has the highest visa costs in Asia, creating a significant barrier for tourists compared to competing destinations like Thailand, Vietnam and many others that offer free visas or charge much lower fees. Moreover, as we go into the period of family travel in July & August, the current fees would require a family of four to pay USD 400 just to enter the country.

We have attached herewith a report with information on visa costs and how this change of process and cost increase will affect the industry in Sri Lanka. We have also attached an email sent out from the new visa website to a tourist, asking him to re-schedule his holiday as they are unable to issue the visa in time, due to a glitch in the system," it further said.