Sri Lanka visa: Brits soon won't have to pay to visit beautiful south Asian country
Sri Lanka has just announced plans to scrap visa fees for visitors from 33 countries – including the UK – in a bid to boost its tourism industry. At present, any Brit has to pay $50 (roughly £37.50), to gain entry to the south Asian country, but that fee is soon set to be waived.
This is an extension of an ongoing Sri Lankan scheme which offers a free 'tourist visa', valid for 30 days at a time, to travellers from India, China, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan. On July 25, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced that the government had approved the move to increase the list of countries eligible for this type of visa, and Britain made the cut.
The hope is that this will make Sri Lanka a more appealing destination for tourists and travellers, and that all the extra people visiting will more than make up for the near £50 million of losses in revenue that will come from the change.
In a press release, Herath explained that this move is all part of a wider plan, saying: 'We have stabilised the economy, and through policy changes in tourism, we aim to ensure steady growth in arrivals'. He added that the tourism industry is 'progressing day by day' and that it could become a 'key contributor' to the country's economy.
When the tourism visa does come into effect for British travellers, you'll still need to apply for electronic travel authorisation, but this should be a quick and easy process. And it will definitely be a free one.
We don't know the exact date that the e-visa will be opened to British travellers, but it will likely be fairly soon. Just make sure to double check the current regulations before you travel.
If you do head over to the island nation anytime soon, you'll be amongst some two million annual visitors, many from the UK. It's especially popular with those on a budget as you can get a great deal on food and accommodation for not too much money, and it is full of gorgeous beaches and scenery.
Here's our guide to Sri Lanka for anyone planning a trip.
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There's a lot to consider when it comes to planning a holiday. For instance, did you know that the British passport has gone down in the global rankings? Or that the best family-friendly attraction on Earth is in the UK? If you're wondering where to go for a late summer vay-cay, try out one of the best places to travel to this August.
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