Sri Lanka’s Tourism Ministry has announced that it plans to issue longer visas for tourists in an attempt to revive it's tourism industry.
The tourism industry in Sri Lanka has been struggling greatly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis.
The Tourism Ministry will soon extend visas for those who apply via Electronic Travel Authorization from 30 days to 180 days.
Single entry visa travelers will be able to stay up to 270 days. Further, multiple entry visas could be extended from 90 days to a year.
The Sri Lankan economy relies heavily on its tourism industry. In 2018 alone tourism contributed 5.6% to the country's GDP.
Several states have advised against non-essential travel to the island due to its shortages of food, fuel and medicine. Additionally, there have been ongoing protests, curfews and blackouts.
The Sri Lankan government has been heavily criticized by foreign diplomats and human rights organizations for it's brutal crackdown on protests.
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