Sri Lanka’s tourism sector saw a significant boost in foreign exchange revenue, reaching $181 million in September 2024, an 18.9% increase from $152.2 million during the same month last year, according to the Central Bank, citing data from tourism promotion authorities. For the first nine months of 2024, tourism revenue surged by 61.2%, totaling $2.35
Sri Lanka has announced a new visa-free entry policy for tourists from 35 countries, effective October 1, 2024. This initiative is part of the country’s strategy to boost tourism and support economic recovery following a currency crisis. The decision was confirmed by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry via a post on Twitter. The cabinet has approved
Tourism Minister Harin Fernando has identified visa-free entry as a major challenge in meeting Sri Lanka’s tourism goals. He noted that neighboring countries offering visa-free access to travelers present significant competition. “All our regional competitors are providing free visas for visitors, which makes it challenging to meet our target numbers,” Fernando said. Despite these challenges,