Starting October 1, Sri Lanka will grant visa exemptions to citizens of 35 countries, including Israel, the UK, the U.S., Japan and Australia, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Saturday. This move comes just days after the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory for the country.
The visa exemption is part of Sri Lanka's efforts to revive its tourism industry, which has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Sri Lanka welcomed 1.91 million tourists, but numbers plummeted during and after the pandemic, with 1.48 million visitors in 2023 and 1.3 million so far this year. The country hopes to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, the number of Israeli tourists visiting Sri Lanka has been rising sharply. In 2020, 3,556 Israelis visited the country; in 2021, the number dropped to 1,724. However, it surged to 9,326 in 2022 and 19,517 in 2023, with 14,125 Israelis visiting from January to July 2023.
Until now, Israelis could obtain visas online or upon arrival. Recently, the online process was halted due to technical issues, requiring travelers to obtain visas at Sri Lankan embassies or airports.
On Tuesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry updated its travel advisory for Sri Lanka, citing increased hostility toward Israelis, particularly in the Arugam Bay area, following October 7. The ministry advised Israeli citizens to reconsider travel to Arugam Bay, and those already there to conceal Israeli and Jewish symbols and avoid gatherings.
Despite the warning, Israeli tourists appear reluctant to cancel their plans to visit the island, which is particularly popular among surfers. Travel agencies and airlines have reported no significant cancellations.