The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority‘s (SLTDA) new tourist mobile application provides a visa application facility for tourists. By applying through this app, tourists are able to obtain a 180-day visa for Sri Lanka. Accordingly, prospective tourists have to apply for their visas through the Online Electronic Tourist Visa Activation System, which is planned to be implemented by the Department of Immigration and Emigration as an innovative mechanism for the tourist visa application procedure of Sri Lanka.

The proposal of the said visa approval mechanism states that tourists originating from SAARC countries will be charged a fee of 70 USD, while those from non-SAARC countries will be required to pay a fee of   85 USD. Travelers holding passports from Maldives, Singapore and Seychelles will be charged 50 USD for the service. Numerous new updates are implemented with regards to Sri Lanka visas almost every day, all of which are compiled and updated through a helpful guide by a local travel agency

COVID-19 pandemic immensely impacted the Sri Lanka’s tourism, industry. Following the disastrous setback, the country is currently putting its best effort to revive one of Sri Lana’s highest economic contributors. After being listed as the top destination to visit in the world by Lonely Planet in the year 2019, rebuilding tourism in Sri Lanka is not an impossible feat, while the right safety measures and precautions need to be implemented to protect both locals and the tourists.

Resuming flights from the Maldives to Sri Lanka in September

As one of the first steps implemented by Sri Lanka to reopen its doors to international tourists, the famous route Male to Colombo operated by Emirates will restart in September. This effort is projected to not only improve tourism in Sri Lanka but also in the Maldives. The flight resumption is scheduled for September 1, Wednesday 2021.

Sri Lanka to allow entry for tourists from India from next week

According to newspaper reports, an official from the Tourism Ministry explained the decision to permit Indian tourists to enter Sri Lanka as an initiative to rebuild the tourism sector that was negatively impacted by the COVID19 outbreak.

Indian travellers who agree to reside in registered three-star hotels will be granted entry into Sri Lanka. This new update puts an end to the previous rule that rejected entry for Indian tourists due to the country’s COVID-19 situation where roughly 25,0000 COVID positive cases are reported on a daily basis. Entry will also be granted for tourists travelling from other countries. Although Sri Lanka is currently going through a quarantine curfew until 6th August  2021, tourists are allowed to visit cultural sites, zoos, botanical gardens, public parks and cultural sites. To make things easy for tourists, officials in Cultural Fund managed heritage sites, wildlife parks, zoos and botanical gardens are recommended to welcome visiting tourists.

Why do tourist visit Sri Lanka

Servings of ancient ruins, a generous heaping of beaches, a teaspoon of rolling tea estates, eight UNESCO world heritage sites, a fistful of waterfalls framed by lush hills are just a few of what makes the island of Sri Lanka a popular destination for unwinding. Apart from gorgeous sceneries linked via memorable train rides, Sri Lanka’s scrumptious food and hospitable locals make your trip all the more exciting.

Sri Lanka might be small in land size, however, it is vast in all the attractions that it boasts and the possible things to do. You might need quite a few months to leave no stone unturned, which is why the new 180-day visa system will prove helpful for anyone who wants to leave no path unexplored.