Visa approval crisis threatens tourism sector

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which recently celebrated the suspension of the VFS Global-led visa issuance system, is now facing a significant crisis. The sector is experiencing severe difficulties as tourists and travel agents struggle to obtain the necessary approvals for entry into the country.

Although authorities assured that transitioning back to the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system would alleviate visa-related issues, the proposed solutions have not been effective. This setback poses a substantial challenge to an industry that was gradually recovering from previous disruptions. Industry stakeholders have described the impact of the visa issue as “massive,” with potential tourists discouraged by the lack of an online visa application option.

According to the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), “Our members are seeing a severe drop in arrivals and a rise in cancellations. The only current option is to obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport.” Efforts to issue visas through foreign missions were halted on August 6 due to technical problems, rendering the system, which had been operational since early August, unavailable.

Stakeholders have warned that unless the online system, as mandated by the Supreme Court, is restored promptly, Sri Lanka risks losing the winter tourism season to regional competitors. Many neighboring countries have either eliminated visa requirements or offered them for free to attract tourists.

SLAITO President Nishard Wijetunga has expressed concern, stating, “All targets for arrival numbers and tourism revenue set for the rest of the year will be unattainable. With the booking season for winter 2024/25 beginning in September, unresolved issues may lead to lost winter bookings.”

Tourism associations have urged authorities to address the issue urgently and reinstate the Mobitel-supported online visa platform as directed. However, the Ministry of Public Security has indicated that restoring the previous system is unlikely in the near term. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles explained that reverting to the old system is not feasible due to an ongoing overhaul of the entire immigration system. This transition, driven by new regulations and protocols introduced to support the VFS Global-led portal, will take several months.

Compounding the industry’s difficulties is the recent resignation of Harin Fernando as Minister of Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs. The resignation follows a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the suspension of his party membership, along with that of Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara, lawful. The lack of a Tourism Minister further complicates efforts to address these urgent issues.