Visa approval crisis threatens tourism sector

• Industry under strain as tourists and travel agents face mounting difficulties in securing visas
• Stakeholders describe fallout from the visa issue as “massive”
• Industry is experiencing a severe drop in arrivals and a rise in cancellations
• May lose winter bookings as well, cautions SLAITO

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which only  recently celebrated the suspension of the VFS Global-led visa issuing system, is now grappling with a significant crisis. The sector is under severe strain as tourists and travel agents face mounting difficulties in securing the necessary approvals to enter the country.

Despite assurances from authorities that the transition back to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system would mitigate visa-related hurdles, proposed solutions have not been effective. This development is a substantial challenge to an industry that was gradually recovering from previous setbacks beyond its control. Industry stakeholders have described the fallout from the visa issue as “massive”, with potential tourists deterred by the absence of an online visa application option.

“Our members are experiencing a severe drop in arrivals and a rise in cancellations. The only option available now is to obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport,” said the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) to Mirror Business.

Efforts to issue visas through foreign missions were halted on 6 August due to technical problems. This system, which had been operational since August, is no longer available.

Stakeholders have warned that if the online system, as mandated by the Supreme Court, is not restored promptly, Sri Lanka risks losing the winter tourism season to regional competitors. Many neighbouring countries have either eliminated visa requirements or offered them for free to attract tourists.

“All targets for arrival numbers and tourism revenue set for the rest of the year will be unattainable. The booking season for winter 2024/25 begins in September, and if the issue remains unresolved, we may lose winter bookings as well,” SLAITO President Nishard Wijetunga warned.

Tourism associations have urged authorities to address the issue urgently and reinstate the Mobitel-supported online visa platform as directed.

However, the Ministry of Public Security has indicated that restoring the previous system is unlikely to be feasible in the near term.

“We cannot revert to the old system as we are overhauling the entire immigration system. Any attempt to do so would take months,” Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said at a press conference last week.

Alles attributed the delays to new regulations and protocols introduced to support the VFS Global -led portal.

Adding to the woes of the industry is also that it does not have a Tourism Minister to help iron out issues. Harin Fernando on Friday (9) resigned as the Minister of Tourism, Lands, Sports and Youth Affairs after the Supreme Court ruled that the decision taken by the SJB to suspend his party membership, along with that of Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara was lawful.