(COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka’s jittery tour operators are witnessing a spike in cancellations, as an ongoing visa delay frustrates tourists and is threatening the country’s tourism recovery.
The provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) shows that the daily arrivals in September range between 4,000 and 4,800. However, the industry insiders warn this figure is at risk of falling, if the visa issues aren’t resolved swiftly.
The tour operators said that they are already reporting a surge in cancellations, with older tourists—who often prefer easier, more streamlined visa processes—opting for other destinations. The issue lies in the manner in which the on-arrival visa approval process has been rolled out.
Unable to secure the visas ahead of time, due to the online visa system not functioning, international visitors have to wait in queues for up to three to four hours at the airport, to obtain the on-arrival visas, leading to frustration and in many cases, cancellations.
The industry has been voicing its concerns for weeks, calling for urgent Government action to resolve the situation. The senior industry figures even threatened to take to the streets in protest, if the Government failed to address the visa delays, which they argue are strangling the sector’s growth.
However, despite these warnings, no protests have materialised yet and the Government is yet to propose a solution.
The impact of these delays is already being felt. In August, Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals fell significantly short of the targets set by the SLTDA.
September, while off to a better start, remains uncertain. Between September 1 and 8, the country saw 33,105 international visitors, with 29,239 arriving in the first week alone. The stakeholders warn that the situation could deteriorate rapidly, if the visa issues persist.
India, the UK and Germany continue to be the top source markets for Sri Lanka, accounting for 19.2 percent, 8.4 percent and 7.3 percent of the total arrivals so far in September. China ranks fourth, contributing 7 percent, followed by Australia at 5.3 percent.
Sri Lanka’s year-to-date tourist arrivals stand at 1.393 million.
