TOURISM leaders voiced their disapproval after the government doubled the fee to obtain a visa for foreigners entering Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s new visa fee was introduced on April 17.
Priced at $100 for a 30-day visit, the new fee made it the most expensive in Asia.
The new visa system earned criticisms from local tourism stakeholders, forcing the Cabinet to return the fee to $50.
Lawmakers and stakeholders were concerned the higher visa costs would discourage foreign tourists from visiting Sri Lanka and force them to explore neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka granted visa-free entry for tourists from India, the country’s top market, as well as Thailand, China, Russia, Japan, and Malaysia.
Sri Lanka, an island nation of about 22 million people, aims to reach the 2.5 million tourist arrivals target at the end of 2024.
