Visa issues jeopardise Sri Lanka’s tourism: Industry cautions

• Says industry is at risk of winter season collapse
• Asserts will take to streets if the government does not implement the SLT Mobitel-run ETA system
• Points out tourists are spending an average of two and a half hours to obtain visas at BIA
• Says prolonged visa delays and uncertainties could lead to widespread cancellations, further undermining the sector’s recovery

 Pic by Nimalsiri Edrisinghe 

By Nuzla Rizkiya 

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is at risk of a winter season collapse due to delays in reactivating the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, stakeholders warned this week. The ongoing visa issuance issues have caused significant setbacks to international visitors.

On Friday, senior representatives of the industry told journalists that they, together with sector stakeholders, will take to streets if the government does not implement the SLT Mobitel-run ETA system, despite a Supreme Court order issued on August 2. The Immigration Department is to temporarily suspend the controversially outsourced VFS Global system and reinstate the previous system with immediate effect. 

Stakeholders warned that the delays have caused significant impacts to the sector, with tourists now spending an average of two and a half hours to obtain entry visas at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). 

International airlines too have already begun expressing hesitation in boarding passengers bound for Sri Lanka due to doubts over whether tourists will be granted visas upon arrival. 

“The entire winter season is at risk. The tourism industry is already fragile, and this delay could prompt travel warnings from countries in the EU. France and Australia have already issued travel advisories against Sri Lanka,” The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Past President Hiran Cooray said at recent press conference. 

“Our industry is in shambles at the moment and it is hurtful because we as a private sector-driven industry have put in a lot of effort to bring the sector to this level after multiple years of challenges. But if this is the way the current government is treating tourism, it is very frustrating,” he added. 

Strong criticism was directed at Department of Immigration and Emigration’s Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya who was accused of defying judicial orders by stakeholders to delay the reactivation the ETA system by citing technical and logistical excuses. 

This delay has severely damaged Sri Lanka’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination, with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority already forecasting a 42,000 drop in arrivals during the season.  

This shortfall makes it highly unlikely that Sri Lanka will meet its goal of 2.3 million arrivals or even reach 2 million tourists by the end of 2024 according to the industry leaders. 

“We were stuck in 2019, then Covid and followed by an economic crisis and now when we were poised with a good winter. The numbers are dropping even when announcements were made that free visas will be issued to 38 countries,” SLAITO President Nishard Wijetunga said clarifying that no parliamentary approval is required to reinstate the ETA system, which was in place in the country before April 17. 

He went on to caution that industry leaders are planning to protest in front of the Department of Immigration and Emigration and escalate the matter by raising their concerns with the Supreme Court again if the government does not take immediate steps to resolve the issue soon. 

“Prolonged visa delays and uncertainties could lead to widespread cancellations, further undermining the sector’s recovery. We cannot allow the entire season to be blocked by bureaucratic delays. In the event, there is no solution given by the authorities, we will protest in front of the Department of Immigration and Emigration” Wijetunga stressed.