Sri Lanka to launch all inclusive tourism app for foreigners planning to visit the island
The government of Sri Lanka has reportedly announced that the all-inclusive Sri Lanka Tourism app will be launched for foreigners visiting the country post-Covid.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had provided funding to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to develop the Version Zero of the travel app.
The app was reportedly developed by the Institute of Information and Communication Technology (ICTA) on the instructions of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and the all-inclusive tourism app will be upgraded to allow tourists to have all the necessary information required to get around the island.
According to a report on Daily FT, the objective of introducing this inclusive tourism application is to obtain all the information of potential travellers before they arrive in the country.
The app is to also have the details of the PCR test results, information on itinerary, logging facilities and real-time data of their whereabouts and so on.
Minister Ranatunga has reportedly stated that this new application will be implemented in collaboration with the country’s Department of Immigration and Emigration.
“Once a tourist visits the country, he or she will be connected to this tourist app. When the travellers are allowed to enter the country, all the information about them will be given to the relevant authorities, including the public health authorities, in all the districts of the country,” Ranatunga has added.
This all-inclusive tourism app is expected to include information about all tourist destinations in the country.
Accordingly, there are already 4,600 tourist sites in the country and 175 places of worship of archaeological value. All this information is to be included in this application.
In addition, tourists visiting the country will be able to contact the Tourist Police in the area where they are lodging, in the case of an emergency.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country prior to the challenges posed by the global Covid 19 pandemic, but the latest developments in the sector indicate a quick revival of the industry. Sri Lanka has been listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications and has also received certification as a safe and hygienic destination. All this will attract tourists to the island as soon as border restrictions are eased with tourists from some countries like China already expressing interest in visiting Sri Lanka. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/29102020/Z_2 |