Tourism service providers register with SLTDA mobile service
- 5opn1
- November 17, 2024
- Travel and Tourism
- Tourism service providers
- 0 Comments
Launch of the mobile registration service for service providers across the country, starting with Hikkaduwa and Koggala by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Institute of Hotel Management (SLITHM) garnered about 600 such registrations, top officials said.
Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman SLTDA told The Sunday Times Business that the weeklong programme launched early this month rendered positive results and the authority is looking at expanding this initiative towards Ella, Nuwara Eliya, and some more southern areas.
He said that most who registered were guest houses, accommodations, tour operators, and travel agencies. One-star and two-star category guest houses had registered, he also said.
The SLTDA will have an online promotional campaign for such registrations going forward, he further said.
He noted that the initial awareness session held on November 5 at the Hikkaduwa Urban Council Auditorium in this regard served to inform potential registrations about the benefits and requirements of this programme. “We also conducted a professional training programme on the following day to uplift the service quality and operational capabilities of those who register,” he added.
Apart from receiving legal recognition and benefiting from free publicity, the registered businesses can look forward to formal recommendation letters from the SLTDA, which can enhance their credibility, access to electricity, concessions to reduce operational costs, and visa recommendations to facilitate travel for businesses. This programme will enable networking opportunities, connecting local businesses with potential national and international partners. Businesses that register will be eligible for various forms of support, both financial and non-financial, including grants and advisory services aimed at bolstering their sustainability and growth in the competitive tourism industry. Overall, this initiative is a strategic move to uplift the standards of tourism services in Sri Lanka, thereby enhancing the country’s appeal as a travel destination.
Mastercard has approached the SLTDA for an analytics platform, Mr. Hewawasam said. The SLTDA is currently in discussion with the Visa data platform, a powerful application suite that delivers data-driven insights and industry benchmarks to help the tourism facilitation authority analyse tourist data, he noted further.
By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera
