by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:25 AM ET, Mon August 26, 2024
Government officials in Sri Lanka announced that citizens from 35 countries—including the United States—will be granted visa-free entry into the Asian nation, according to the Times of India.
Starting on October 1, the Sri Lankan Government is allowing citizens from the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and more to enter the country without a visa as part of a six-month initiative
Following the successful pilot of the visa-free program in October 2023, Sri Lanka has decided to expand the initiative, a move that is likely to further boost international tourism
Government officials said the updated policies were designed to boost tourism and strengthen international ties, making Sri Lanka more accessible and attractive to visitors from key destinations
The program has also been implemented to offset the challenges Sri Lanka's tourism industry faced in recent years.
Since the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019 that severely impacted international tourism arrivals, the sector has been gradually recovering, with earnings reaching $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024.
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