Thumping visa fees, hotel rates send travel industry reeling
Travellers to Sri Lanka will have to pay more to enter the country as the new visa rules come about giving effect to new and increased charges that has taken even the Tourism Minister by surprise.
The new system in place under the VFS Global charges a US$18.50 service fee, $7.27 convenience fee and a visa fee of $75 that totals to $100.77. And the previously charged $50 visa fee is also not available on the new website.
The tourism industry was woken up to a rude shock this week that left not just the travel trade but also the shipping sector scurrying for meetings with relevant authorities to work things out without allowing their revenues to be impacted by sudden surcharges made on visa fees that would make Sri Lanka increasingly uncompetitive.
The travel industry has been in discussion with the Tourism Minister Harin Fernando on Thursday over these new visa fees that have left everyone baffled over the sudden implementation of these charges by the Immigration Department.
During the meeting the Minister had assured that the online visa system will be able to allow for travellers to be charged a fee of just $50 and noted that this was just a technical issue that needs to be worked out. Travellers are now unable to make this payment online for a 30 day visa but on the contrary are compelled to apply for a 6-month fee.
There was much ambiguity on the online system as well, Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators President Nishad Wijetunga said adding that once the free of charge visas lapses on April 30 there was concern whether it will resume to the $50 rate that was applicable for non-SAARC countries.
This kind of confusion does not bode well for a country that is just coming out of an economic crisis and seeing an increase in tourist traffic.
Other industry stakeholders like the Association of Small Medium Enterprises (ASMET) and the Sri Lanka Association of Professionals, Conventions and Event Organisers (SLAPCEO) were also present during the meeting.
Mr. Wijetunga pointed out that with summer here they hope the bookings will not be impacted as a result of this new online visa system.
In the meantime, he highlighted the impact of such sudden increase in rates like the recent Russian charter operations that was cancelled as a result of the hoteliers in southern Sri Lanka opting to charge 40 per cent higher rates.
This led to a complete cancellation of Russian charter operations that was due to arrive in the country at 800 passengers per week from May to October.
Russian charter operations were carried out right through winter and were scheduled to move into summer as well but with the destination becoming uncompetitive with the increased rates now they have moved to Turkey.
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