(IBNS): Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Harin Fernando has said the country decided to extend its multiple-entry tourist visa up to five years to boost tourism.
The Minister told The Island that Sri Lanka now offers one-year multiple entry visas. The country also issues single entry visas, with a six-month stay period.
The Minister said that the Cabinet of Ministers approved his proposal on Monday.
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“The Cabinet agreed to extend five-year multiple entry tourist visas, for 35 countries, to help boost repeat tourism in Sri Lanka. A tourist can stay in Sri Lanka for six months in one stretch with this scheme,” he told the newspaper.
The Minister said he expects the country will see the arrival of one million tourists in 2022.
“We expect two billion dollars from tourism this year,” he said.