INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The long-awaited launch of an all-inclusive Sri Lanka Tourism app is in its final stages, promising to significantly uplift the island
The initiative, which earned Cabinet approval back in 2019, is finally gaining momentum after being stalled by COVID-19 and other unforeseen
challenges.Reactivating the Sri Lanka Tourism AppPriyantha Fernando, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, has
confirmed the reactivation of the initiative
The development will be undertaken by the same Malaysian developer who was initially involved
If the development starts from scratch, the release could extend into the second quarter of 2024
But if all goes well, tourists could have access to this comprehensive digital tool as early as March 2024.What the App EntailsThe Sri Lanka
Tourism app aims to provide comprehensive information on tourist sites, registered establishments, and service providers
It will enable tourists to purchase tickets for attractions and rate their experiences
This data will aid in creating targeted tourism products.The app will support multiple languages, including English, German, French,
This move is designed to cater to a wider audience and ensure ease of use for tourists from different linguistic backgrounds
addressing obstacles to marine tourism, particularly leisure activities on yachts
They have finalized classification criteria for marine tourism and are receiving assistance from the Asian Development Bank to address
The goal is to attract wealthy Indian yacht owners to berth their vessels in marinas throughout the country.The government has also made
plans to reduce taxes, introduce water sports, and implement plans for a boat service industry to boost growth in the domestic sector
Sri Lanka aims to attract 2.3 million tourists in 2024, focusing on tourists from India, Russia, China, the UK, and Germany.On another
front, Sri Lanka has installed an AI-automated facial recognition system at Bandaranaike International Airport
This deployment aims to identify nefarious activities such as drug trafficking and ID fraud at international border crossings
This move, although controversial, is part of a crackdown by police and the Ministry of Public Security that saw over 25,000 arrests since
December 17, 2023.Source: BNN Breaking--Agencies
