Sri Lanka reinstates ETA following the Presidential elections

Sri Lanka reverses its visa policy. After months of and changes of coursethe country finally reinstated itselectronic travel authorization (ETA) following the election of the new president Anura Kumara Dissanayaka.

This decision puts an end to a chaotic period which began last April when the previous government replaced ETA with an electronic visa, before abruptly suspending it on August 2. For nearly two months, travelers had to obtain their visas on arrival, creating traffic jams and frustration at the island's borders..

The return of ETA is not without hitches. The new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herathacknowledged some technical difficulties during the launch. Despite some instabilities, the eta.gov.lk is now operational.

For tourists, the cost of the ETA remains fixed at 50 US dollars, excluding bank charges. Once approved, the authorization is valid for 6 months and allows a 30-day stay with 2 possible entries.

A U-turn on free visas

The reactivation of ETA is accompanied by a U-turn on the promise of free visas. August, the former government had announced with great fanfare the abolition of visa fees for 35 countriesincluding France, Belgium and Canada. This measure, which was supposed to boost tourism, did not see the light of day in the end.

Vijitha Herath explains this back-pedaling by administrative obstacles: "Although approved by the previous cabinet, Parliament was dissolved before the measure was approved.“. Without the backing of the new ParliamentSo it's impossible to make it free.

Only 7 countries currently benefit from free ETA: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand.

A tourism sector in difficulty

These delays in visa policy come at a difficult time for Sri Lankan tourism. Priyantha FernandoChairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), points to visa complications as one of the reasons for the slowdown in arrivals.

The figures speak for themselves: between September 1 and 17, just 92,639 international tourists set foot on Sri Lankan soil. A score that falls short of expectations and jeopardizes the ambitious target of 2.3 million visitors by 2024.

Behind the scenes of an administrative crisis

The Sri Lankan visa saga reveals the backstage of a deeper administrative crisis. The contract for the new electronic visa system, awarded without a public tender, has caused an uproar. Petitions have been filed, alleging irregularities in the selection process and adverse financial consequences for the country.

The new e-Visa system imposed higher costs on the government: up to $18.50 per application, compared with only $2 for the old ETA system managed by the state-owned company. SLTMobitel. This increase has provoked the ire of local tourism operators, who fear a negative impact on their business.

Fill in a file from ETA Sri Lanka

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