Sri Lanka has implemented a significant policy change in its tourism sector by waiving visa fees for tourists from 40 countries for a 30-day period. However, Bangladesh, despite being one of Sri Lanka's top 10 tourist markets, has been excluded from this waiver. The new policy, effective from May 25, allows citizens from countries like Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, and Japan to obtain a free 30-day tourist visa (Electronic Travel Authorization or ETA). Despite the exclusion, Bangladeshi tourists are still required to pay a fee of $20 plus tax for their ETA.
Rising Tourist Numbers
According to the Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry, the number of Bangladeshi tourists visiting Sri Lanka has significantly increased over the past few years. In 2025, 59,563 Bangladeshi tourists visited Sri Lanka, compared to 39,555 in 2024 and 17,846 in 2023. As of June 4 of the current year, 19,653 Bangladeshi tourists have already visited Sri Lanka.
Exclusion Raises Questions
The exclusion of Bangladesh from the visa fee waiver, despite being a major tourist source, has raised questions among tourism stakeholders. Taufiq Rahman, Secretary General of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Bangladesh Chapter and CEO of Journey Plus, noted that Sri Lanka had conducted a roadshow in Dhaka in April to attract tourists. However, the recent policy does not reflect any benefits for Bangladesh, unlike other South Asian countries like Nepal and Pakistan.
Call for Action
Rahman emphasized that the issue is also related to Bangladesh's overall image and called for more proactive efforts from tour operators and the government to address this exclusion. Industry stakeholders believe that the exclusion from the visa fee waiver has caused disappointment among those in the tourism sector, given the continuous rise in the number of Bangladeshi tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
