Sri Lanka's cabinet approved issuing free tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries including China, India and Russia, a top official said on Thursday, in an effort to boost tourism and help revive its crisis-hit economy. Tourists will be given 30-day visas under a six-month pilot programme that will start from Oct. 1, said Cabinet spokesman and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana. "The aim of the government is to transform Sri Lanka into a free visa country, much like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to tap into the benefits of a rapidly growing tourism industry," Gunawardana told reporters at a weekly cabinet briefing. The extensive list includes India, China, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, In...
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The travel and tourism sector is an important income generator for Sri Lanka. However, the ongoing economic crisis coupled with Ukraine–Russia war and China’s zero-COVID policy has put the sector in jeopardy. Against this backdrop, the country will face an uphill task in restoring a once thriving sector, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Tourism accounted for more than 12% of the country’s GDP in 2019 and the third-largest source of foreign exchange reserves - behind worker remittances and the apparel industry. According to GlobalData, international arrivals in Sri Lanka more than quadrupled from 448,000 to 1.9 million between 2009 and 2019, reaching a peak of 2.3 million inbound visitors in 2018. Concurrently, inbound tourism spending increased rapidly from $39...
Read MoreWith international travel to Sri Lanka once again possible, Avani Kalutara Resort is ready to welcome overseas travellers back with ‘Rediscover Avani’ — a new stay package offering savings of 40% on all rooms and suites, complimentary spa moments and savings on high-adrenaline thrills. Originally designed in 1994 by Geoffrey Bawa, one of the most influential Asian architects of his generation, Avani Kalutara’s triton-like layout makes the most of the property’s location in a spectacular lagoon at the confluence of the Kalu River and the Indian Ocean. The resort’s fully-renovated suites, as well as brand-new pool suites with private plunge pools, are dressed in modernist white, accented with purple and cobalt blue. Guests can grab a tropical concoction and settle in by the pool o...
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