Sri Lanka is aiming at introducing the new online visa system that is expected to have an impact on the country’s budding tourism industry, and will announce the date of implementation tomorrow (Wednesday) at a news conference.
Immigration officials confirmed that a news conference will be held about the actual implementation date amidst various dates – October 1, September 28, September 30 and January 1, 2012 – appearing in various media reports in the past week creating confusion amongst the trade.
Industry experts believe that the online visa if launched close upon the next season will affect the tourist arrivals to island.
The government plans on introducing the online visa system alongside the current system of obtaining a visa on arrival.
However, most industry experts believe it is likely to confuse the travelers and since visas need to be obtained in advance, arrivals from markets like India is likely to get badly affected.
This new regulation was to be implemented in August last year, an industry spokesman said however; due to objections by the sector it was postponed.
sundaytimes
Immigration officials confirmed that a news conference will be held about the actual implementation date amidst various dates – October 1, September 28, September 30 and January 1, 2012 – appearing in various media reports in the past week creating confusion amongst the trade.
Industry experts believe that the online visa if launched close upon the next season will affect the tourist arrivals to island.
The government plans on introducing the online visa system alongside the current system of obtaining a visa on arrival.
However, most industry experts believe it is likely to confuse the travelers and since visas need to be obtained in advance, arrivals from markets like India is likely to get badly affected.
This new regulation was to be implemented in August last year, an industry spokesman said however; due to objections by the sector it was postponed.
sundaytimes
