Two way visa issuance for foreign tourists
With the implementation of the new visa process the government is now carrying out its visa issuance services in two ways. The old visa fee of $50 prevails which includes a convenience fee of $10.
On arrival, tourists can obtain their visas at the Immigration counters at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) manned by the Immigration Department while online visas will be provided through the new VFS online system.
The new visa issuance has not just created confusion but also is not a user friendly system for tourists.
A number of issues have been found with the new eVisa system compared to the efficient ETA system that was in existence just prior to the new system.
The new system was found to have language barriers as there is an absence of multilingual support that alienates non-English speaking tourists.
It is also complex and not user friendly as the system now includes complex document format requirements, difficult navigation, and excessive personal information demands, such as social media account details.
It has been found that there are difficulties in carrying out group applications as although the system allows for group applications it unnecessarily requires re-entry of information.
Moreover, there are concerns related to privacy and security as the system seems to lack clear privacy policy and has questionable adherence to global data protection laws that is alarming. On Thursday, a popular luxury travel reviewer and YouTuber ‘Will Davis’ known as ‘TrekTrendy’ revealed a ‘massive data breach’ in the system. Through a social media channel he had posted that despite having his visa to Sri Lanka approved by VFS Global, he was daily receiving other tourists’ visas emailed to him with full names, addresses and passport information.
A number of destinations are issuing free visas for those visiting particularly from the European block and visa fees to others range between $25-40 except in China where the 30-day standard visa fee for other countries is $75-90.
Moreover, it is learnt that the VFS service is expected to go beyond just issuing visas, in fact it has been pointed out that this service would involve even the provision of additional services like that of a travel agent. Additional services such as hotel bookings, taxi arrangements, and potentially, in the future, assistance for the obtaining of temporary driving licenses. These initiatives are said to aim at enhancing the tourist experience.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!