On-arrival licences drive shift to self-travel, pushing tourism industry to adapt

Thursday, 7 August 2025 03:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government’s move to issue on-arrival driving licences to tourists is off to a brisk start, with over 120 permits granted in the first three days, whilst pushing the tourism industry to adapt to changing visitor preferences.

Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe on Tuesday said the on-arrival temporary driving licence service at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has issued over 120 permits to international travellers within three days of operation.

“The service is highly welcomed by the travellers and is rolling out successfully,” he said.

However, the Daily FT learns that taxi driving associations, who have opposed such measures for decades, have strongly contested the service, while threatening certain officials at Sri Lanka Tourism on protesting the new change.

On 3 August, the Transport Ministry launched the facility at the BIA to streamline mobility options for visitors. However, requests for three-wheeler and heavy vehicle licences were not permitted (https://www.ft.lk/front-page/DMT-launches-temporary-driving-licences-for-tourists-at-BIA/44-779860).

Amarasinghe said the DMT’s Werahera branch was the main point of issue for foreign driving licences, granting a total of 14,293 permanent and temporary licences to foreigners over the years. This includes 3,000 in 2023, 2,915 in 2024, and 2,476 so far in 2025. Over the past five years, 5,757 temporary licences have been issued through the branch.

Separately, industry analysts pointed out that the new airport service could mark a turning point for the self-drive tourism segment, which has long been underdeveloped in the country.

“Globally, self-drive travel caters to an independent market segment and was even popular in Sri Lanka’s early tourism days in the 1970s, when travellers arrived by ferry to Talaimannar with their own vehicles,” they said.

However, stakeholders warn that domestic tourism operators must adapt to the evolving market trends. With online travel agencies (OTAs) capturing increasing market share, traditional operators face competition from global brands which were present in Sri Lanka before planned tourism took root.

“The visitor should have the freedom to choose how they travel. We cannot force them into our preferred options. With technological advancements, changes are inevitable. Even in hospitality, the room-to-employee ratio will eventually fall,” they explained.

They also raised concerns about the ethics of certain segments of the tourism industry, with critics alleging that some guides and drivers work on high commissions from service providers, misleading visitors who rely on them for honest recommendations.

They opined that the true success of the new on-arrival licence scheme could depend on how well industry players align their services with the growing demand for flexibility, transparency, and independent travel experiences.