SLTDA Reports Lower Than Anticipated Tourist Arrivals

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has reported that tourist arrivals for September are lower than anticipated.

SLTDA Chairman Priyantha Fernando attributed this decline to issues related to visa issuance. 

He noted that since the change in the visa processing agency in May, the process has become more expensive and cumbersome for foreign tourists.

However, Chairman Fernando expressed optimism that visa-free travel opportunities for citizens of 39 countries, set to commence in October, will help boost tourist arrivals.

He believes this initiative will aid in reaching the target of 2.3 million tourist arrivals for 2024.

From September 1 to 17, a total of 70,678 foreign tourists arrived in Sri Lanka, bringing the total number of foreign visitors for the year to over 1.43 million.

Yesterday, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Harsha Illukpitiya was ordered to be remanded in custody by the Supreme Court today.

This order comes as a result of his failure to comply with the interim order issued by the Supreme Court on August 2, which voided the government's decision to issue visas under the electronic visa system.