Asian bucket list destination scraps tourist entry fee in a huge win for British holidaymakers

It's a welcome boost for anyone dreaming of Sri Lanka's wildlife-packed national parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, gorgeous beaches and scenic walking trails.

The Foreign Office updated its travel guidance this week confirming the fee waiver is now in place.

The fee waiver covers a broad range of European nations, with Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland all on the list alongside the UK.

Travellers from Belarus, Czechia, Russia and Turkey also qualify, as do visitors from China, Indonesia, Thailand and the US.

Anyone looking to book a trip must remember they still need to apply for their ETA online before they travel.

For those who sorted their visa before May 25, when they fee was scrapped, cannot claim back their $50.

This comes as British Airways announced more routes going to Sri Lanka. The airline is adding two brand-new destinations starting within months – Melbourne in Australia and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

British Airways' chief planning and strategy officer, Neil Chernoff, said: "We're delighted to announce sizeable growth to our flying schedule for winter 2026, including two notable new destinations that I'm confident will prove popular with our customers."

For those dreaming of Sri Lanka's stunning beaches and wildlife, the Colombo service launches on October 23, 2026.