Sri Lanka is adopting innovative measures to leverage information technology for tourism, aiming to meet the needs of travellers worldwide, according to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman, Priantha Fernando.
He emphasised the necessity for all industry stakeholders to join hands in promoting tourism with discipline and responsibility, especially considering the challenging turnaround from the 2021 crisis.
Key strategies include smart destination management and the Internet of Things (IoT), which have become essential to meet travellers’ expectations.
The country has completed almost all short-term tourism development initiatives, setting the stage to achieve the target of 2.5 million tourists and US$4-$5 billion in revenue this year.
Tourist arrivals reached 1.01 million in the first six months of the year, a 62 per cent increase from the same period in 2023. By June 2024, tourism earnings had risen to over $1.5 billion, marking a 78 per cent year-on-year increase despite a slight month-on-month decline.
Mr. Fernando highlighted the country’s commitment to a forward-looking approach, moving away from the ad-hoc policies and conventional systems of previous regimes.
However, several travel agents and small to medium-scale hotel owners in southern and upcountry regions expressed concerns that tourist arrivals and hotel accommodations outside Colombo did not meet their expectations.
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko