Online visa application pilot project:

No impact on tourist arrivals

Harshini PERERA

The proposed online visa obtaining system will not have a negative impact on tourist arrivals to the country this year.

Dr Nalaka Godahewa

Industrialists have panicked stating that most tourists to Sri Lanka are not familiar with the internet and are likely to put off visiting Sri Lanka.

Commenting on recent media reports Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr Nalaka Godahewa told Daily News Business that industrialists should not panic on the new online visa obtaining system as it will be a three month pilot project conducted by the Immigration Department. “After running the pilot project, the country can decide on a more convenient, practical and user friendly solution for the online visa obtaining system,” he said.

“It is true that elderly people who may find hard to apply for visa online visit Sri Lanka. But when they buy their air tickets at their home country then they could be helped by the ticketing officer to apply for online visa. It is revealed by research that 80 percent of foreigners go through Sri Lankan websites for information prior to their arrival,” he said.

As a form of making the online visa process easier, the application for online visa will be available on all tourism website related such as Sri Lanka Tourism, websites of hotels and the Export Development Board (EDB).

Dr Godahewa said a regulator should come in place to monitor taxation at every port of entry to the country to facilitate tourist arrivals. “Sri Lanka’s tourism industry should not exploit the visitors.

All entry points into the country should come under one taxation process without variance to facilitate tourists,” Dr Nalaka Godahewa said.

“This will be part of Sri Lanka Tourism’s future plans and to promote Sri Lanka among tourists as a hassle-free destination,” he said.

He also said ten ventures under the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Project will receive Cabinet approval in two weeks time.