Tourism is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s economy, contributing billions of dollars annually and employing hundreds of thousands across the island. However, the industry has faced major challenges in recent years, including the global pandemic and domestic political and economic uncertainty. By removing visa requirements for key markets, Sri Lanka hopes to: Boost tourist arrivals significantly during high season. Encourage longer stays and repeat visits. Compete with neighboring destinations like Thailand and Malaysia, which already offer relaxed entry policies. Rebuild confidence in Sri Lanka as a world-class tourism hub. Minister Ali Sabry emphasized that this visa-free initiative is only the beginning. The long-term vision is to introduce a permanent visa-free regime, aligning Sri Lanka with some of the most open travel destinations in Asia. Tourism, Technology, and Accessibility This announcement also comes on the heels of the Sri Lanka Supreme Court’s suspension of the e-Visa portal previously managed by VFS Global. That system had faced criticism over technical issues and accessibility. A visa-free regime not only eliminates reliance on such platforms but also makes travel more straightforward, ensuring that Sri Lanka remains competitive in a region where efficiency and digital ease are now top traveler expectations. What It Means for Travelers For international travelers, this policy change removes one of the biggest hurdles to visiting Sri Lanka. With no need to apply for a visa in advance or pay extra fees, tourists can now plan spontaneous trips to discover the country’s rich culture, wildlife, and stunning landscapes. Highlights that await visa-free visitors include: The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, and Galle Fort. Sri Lanka’s lush tea plantations and hill country landscapes. Its world-famous beaches in Bentota, Arugam Bay, and Mirissa. An incredible range of wildlife experiences, from elephants in Minneriya to leopards in Yala National Park. For frequent travelers in Asia, this move places Sri Lanka firmly back on the map as a convenient, affordable, and exciting holiday option. Looking Ahead: Will More Countries Be Added? While the list of 35 countries is extensive, Sri Lanka may expand visa-free access further as part of its long-term tourism strategy. Neighboring nations and frequent inbound markets are likely candidates for inclusion. For now, the selected countries already cover Sri Lanka’s top source markets, ensuring a strong boost to arrivals in the upcoming travel seasons. Practical Tips for Travelers Even without a visa requirement, ensure your passport is valid for at least six months from your entry date. Check with your airline or Sri Lanka’s official tourism channels for entry updates before travel. Consider travel insurance, as healthcare and cancellations are not covered by visa-free agreements. For more details, travelers can consult the official Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority website, which provides the latest updates and guidelines. Final Thoughts Sri Lanka’s decision to grant visa-free entry to 35 countries marks a turning point in the island nation’s tourism strategy. By making travel easier and more affordable, it opens the door for millions of potential visitors to experience the country’s unique blend of culture, nature, and hospitality. For tourists, the message is clear: from October 2025, visiting Sri Lanka has never been simpler.

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Thailand expects to complete its negotiations over a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union by the end of next year, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said yesterday during a state visit to France. In a statement issued after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, the Thai leader said that the Thai-EU FTA is on track to be completed within 18 months. The finalization of the FTA talks, which were initiated in 2013, would expand the fruitful economic relationship between the two nations. According to government data cited by Reuters, Thailand exported $21.8 billion worth of goods to the EU last year, including cars, computers, jewelry, and electric circuits, making the bloc its fourth-largest trading partner. Among the largest Thai exports to the EU were machinery, electronic equipment, and pharmaceutical products. According to his statement, since arriving in France on March 9, Srettha has “met with executives of over 20 of France’s leading firms in the fields of automobiles, aviation, clean energy, fashion, sports, hospitality and tourism, to explore business opportunities between the two countries,”. Srettha also held talks executives of Formula 1 and said they expressed interest in Thailand as a potential site for hosting a Formula 1 motor racing event. Both the FTA talks and the planned visa-free arrangement are part of Srettha’s push to revive Thailand’s economy, which has still not fully recovered from the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic. He plans to tackle them with various economic stimulus packages, including the planned “digital wallet” scheme. Like the economy as a whole, tourism arrivals are far off returning to their pre-COVID-19 numbers. In order to attract more visitors, Srettha’s government has temporarily waived visas for travelers from China, Kazakhstan, Russia, India, and Taiwan. In January, it made this arrangement permanent for visitors from China, with reciprocal visa-free travel to China for Thai nationals. Last year, around 28 million people visited Thailand. EU-Thailand Pact: Visa-Free Access for Thai Passport Holders EU and Thailand to reveal new agreement this year, offering visa-free access for Thai passport holders.  The pact aims to strengthen trade and cooperation between the two parties. The government is positive about finalising a trade and cooperation framework with the EU, which will include visa-free travel to the Schengen zone for Thai citizens. This agreement is expected to boost investment opportunities for Thailand. The EU-Thailand Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will enable Thai passport holders to enter the EU’s Schengen zone without a visa. This agreement aims to facilitate economic growth and enhance business opportunities for both parties. During a recent event commemorating Europe Day, Minister Jakkapong highlighted the importance of fostering stronger ties between Thailand and the EU. He emphasized the mutual benefits of the FTA and expressed hope for EU support in granting visa-free access to Thai nationals in the Schengen zone.

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Border runs have been cut short due to the very recent change in rules regarding overland entry by Thai immigration. Foreigners entering Thailand via border posts at Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia without securing a prior visa will now be granted 30-day visa exemption stamp TWO times per calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. According to a spokesman for the Thai Immigration Bureau, the new regulation was created to encourage foreigners to secure the proper visas in advance from a Royal Thai Embassy prior to their arrival. The new rule will also limit the amount of back-to-back visa runs being made by foreigners to extend their stay. However, this change only applies to visitors who have not obtained a visa beforehand, and are entering from the border by land. Those who arrive at the airport without a prior visa will continue to receive a 30-day stamp up to 6 times per calendar year. Extensions at Thai Immigration for the visa exemption stamps remain to be 30 days for a fee of 1,900 baht. The only exception to the new regulation will be Malaysian passport holders traveling from Malaysia, as they will continue to receive the 30-day Unlimited Visa Exemption stamps. Beyond 90 Days A dose of good news awaits tourists—following the new regulation set by Thai Immigration, visitors can now come regularly to Thailand without limiting their stay within a total of 90 days in a six-month period. The restriction has already been abolished so tourists can now visit Thailand as often as they want, provided that they obtain 30 day Visa on Arrival at airports and 15 day Visa on Arrival if they are traveling via land borders. However, immigration officials still recommend getting visas prior to arrival in Thailand, as they remind visitors that back-to-back short visas are not the proper way to extend the stay in the country on a long-term basis. This new regulation is predicted to greatly benefit travel agencies as more border trips are expected to be booked with the increased influx of tourists eager to renew their visas.

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The kingdoms of Cambodia and Thailand have joined hands to increase foreign and inter-ASEAN tourism under the ‘Two Kingdoms, One Destination’ tourism visa pact. Secretary of state at Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism Tith Chantha said Cambodia and Thailand have already created a single-visa option for tourists looking to explore both countries in one trip. “Now, we’re joining with Thailand to promote Two Kingdoms, One Destination. It will make it much easier for tourists who don’t want to visit only one country during their trip,” he said. “Thailand has a lot of airlines operating long-haul to Europe or the United States – we don’t have many of those long flights, so we will benefit from this once the campaign kicks in.” Thailand’s minister of tourism and sports, Kobkran Wattanakvrangkul, told the Bangkok Post that the campaign would run from 2015 to 2017. “The collaboration looks forward to exchanging foreign travellers and facilitating travel across both countries. The plan also promotes intra-ASEAN tourism,” Kobkarn was quoted as saying. The campaign will promote two major tourist routes; one running along the Gulf of Thailand’s coastline through Bangkok, Rayong and Trat in Thailand to Koh Kong, Sihanoukville, Kampot and Phnom Penh in Cambodia; the other will also originate in Bangkok and end in Phnom Penh, but will go through further inland from Aranyaprathet in Thailand to Poipet, Battambang, and Siem Reap. Co-chair of the Government-Private Sector Working Group on Tourism Ho Vandy welcomed the initiative, saying that Cambodia had been cooperating with Thailand’s tourism association since 2008. “Now that this is being done on a governmental level, it will be a big boost because it will share benefits with both countries,” he said. “We have observed that we got more than 30 per cent of [Cambodia’s] tourists from Thailand since the promotion began.” Tourist arrivals to Cambodia from Thailand were up 37 per cent to 71,572 visitors during the first quarter of 2015, ranking fifth, while Vietnamese tourists still ranked first followed by China, South Korea, and Laos, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The data showed that Cambodia welcomed some 1.3 million foreign tourists in the year’s first quarter, a 3.1 per cent increase from the 1.267 million tourists in the same period last year. Last year, Cambodia received some 4.5 million foreign tourists, a 7 per cent increase from the year before. The arrivals generated about $3 billion worth of Cambodia’s $15 billion GDP. The Ministry of Tourism projected that Cambodia would receive about 5 million foreign tourist arrivals this year.

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