Sri Lanka is considering extending the visa exemption status for Indian travelers beyond March to continue attracting visitors from India and promote repeat visits, according to Tourism and Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs Minister Harin Fernando.
During a session at OTM 2024, Minister Fernando highlighted India as Sri Lanka’s top source market, emphasizing the crucial role Indian tourists played in the country’s recovery from recent crises. Sri Lanka had previously implemented visa-free entry for Indian travelers from December 2023 to March.
“We are working on extending it beyond March. We want to make Sri Lanka an easily accessible destination for Indians, who can just walk into our country for a hassle-free holiday,” said Minister Fernando. Offering visa exemption aims to simplify travel processes, especially for last-minute planners who may find visa procedures cumbersome.
Minister Fernando stressed the importance of easing travel processes to encourage more tourists from India, emphasizing the need to adapt to evolving travel preferences.
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Marketing, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, shared similar sentiments about visa exemptions, expressing Indonesia’s intention to extend visa-free status to more countries. India, being a key market for Bali, holds a prominent position in their plans for visa exemptions.
India ranks as the number two source for Bali, and overall, it is the sixth largest contributor to Indonesia’s tourism footfalls. Ni Made Ayu Marthini acknowledged India’s vast population as a significant market with substantial potential.
The 3-day OTM event, featuring over 1,600 exhibitors from 60 countries and 30 Indian states and Union Territories, is connecting with more than 35,000 industry professionals and buyers. Source: PTI
