The possibility of introducing a visa-free travel card to facilitate easier movement of tourists across the South Asian region, is exploring in India said Ms JyotI Mayal , Chairperson of Travel and Hospitality Skills Council at the South Asia Travel Awards (SATA) 2026 panel discussion
Mayal said the proposed initiative could serve as a common travel document for the region, simplifying cross-border movement and potentially giving a significant boost to intra-regional tourism.
Describing the concept as a “visa-free entry travel card for the region,” Mayal said such an arrangement could also complement the rapid expansion of digital payment systems across South Asia.
She pointed to the increasing acceptance of Indian currency through digital payment platforms in neighbouring destinations as an indication of the region’s growing economic and travel linkages. Sri Lanka, among other destinations, has seen wider acceptance of Indian payments through platforms such as UnionPay.
The proposal comes as tourism stakeholders increasingly call for stronger regional integration and greater ease of movement within South Asia. Industry leaders believe reducing travel barriers between neighbouring countries could stimulate intra-regional tourism while opening new opportunities for airlines, hotels, tour operators and other tourism businesses.
Panelist Amal Gunatillake noted that the idea of a common visa-free travel framework, along with discussions around a possible common currency, has been debated in South Asia for more than 15 years. However, concerns over terrorism, security and wider geopolitical challenges have prevented the proposals from gaining momentum.
According to Gunatillake, greater connectivity and easier movement of people could help position South Asia as a unified tourism market. Instead of promoting individual countries in isolation, the region could develop multi-country itineraries that encourage international visitors to combine several destinations in a single trip.
Such an approach could also strengthen the region’s competitiveness in the global tourism market by encouraging longer stays, higher visitor spending and more integrated travel experiences.
The discussion also touched on the growing influence of artificial intelligence in tourism. While AI is increasingly being recognised as a powerful tool for destination marketing, customer engagement and travel planning, panellists observed that its adoption across the tourism industry remains comparatively slow.
Meanwhile, the SATA 2026 celebrations will culminate in the grand finale of the 10th edition on October 8, with the SATA 2026 Gala and Awards Ceremony. Leading hotels, airlines and tourism stakeholders from Sri Lanka and across South Asia will be recognised for their contributions and achievements in the regional travel and hospitality sector.
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