Cabinet to revisit free visa, visa on arrival
View(s):The government while considering reviving the recently suspended free visa and visa on arrival to a number of countries except India and China, is also looking at “tracking” tourists entering Sri Lanka.
Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga told a media briefing in Colombo at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) this week that they had plans to recommence the free visa and visa on arrival that had earlier been granted cabinet approval. The cabinet paper would be jointly submitted with the Ministry of Home Affairs as well.
He noted that the paper on how to track those coming into the country would also be presented to the cabinet to ensure the security of the country.
This was halted temporarily following the April 21 Easter bombings, the minister said noting that however since the situation in the country was returning to normal the government believes they could revive these plans to bring in more tourists to the country.
A revival cabinet paper would be drafted in this regard to issue a free visa and visa on arrival however, the minister noted caution would be observed to ensure that no “undesirable people” would enter the country.
As a result visitors would be tracked to ensure their eligibility to tour the country.
He noted that all banks should comply with the government request to grant the relief to the tourism sector else their licenses would be cancelled.
Minister Amaratunga also announced the reduction in ground handling charges and other costs at the airport.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Johanne Jayaratne said that ground handling; fuel and embarkation levy reduced overall airline operations costs from around 20-25 per cent at the BIA.
He explained that this move to reduce ground handling costs was a long-awaited reduction and which has now been approved by the Cabinet on Sunday that is a timely move.
Mr. Jayaratne said that airlines have been very positive about it and that in line with this move there would be an increase in the frequencies as well. Most airlines reduced their frequencies in the aftermath of the Easter bombings in April.
Reduction on ground handling would be carried out based on each airline’s agreement and the type of aircraft and frequency and other considerations taken into account, it was explained.
In addition, the fuel component would fall in line with the Chennai price which is considered the best rate to follow.
As per embarkation levy it was noted that this had already been reduced by $50 and this amount would be retained.
Overall this would amount to a 20-25 per cent reduction in cost of operations for an airline flying into Colombo, Mr. Jayaratne said.
He also remained positive about the number of arrivals indicating that with the roll-out of the Mastercard promotion there could be an increased number of visitors to the country from India.
In this respect, authorities believe there could be two million tourists visiting the country by the end of the year. “The recovery is happening faster than anticipated,” Mr. Jayaratne said.
Board of Airline Representatives Chairman Dimuthu Tennakoon said that following the reduction in ground handling costs at the BIA they expect all airlines to fully support this move and increase their frequencies and in this respect they are likely to work with tour operators to bring in more traffic as well.
Emirates Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Chandana De Silva said that the Dubai based carrier has now resumed its operations with four flights per day. “We are back on track with four flights per day.”
He noted that they expect bookings in future with a slight pickup assured from October to December.
Sri Lanka Association of Airline Representatives (SLAAR) Chairman Gerard Victoria said that some airlines were due to commence operations this year from Far Eastern and Indian region.
From September 1 China Eastern is expected to recommence traffic to Colombo with eight flights per week, the airline representative present at the briefing said.
Flights from India were yet to resume their full operations.
(Sunimalee)