SLTDA begins enhancing industry with tourist-friendly initiatives
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) recently said that 18 recipients were awarded certificates in Galle, under the third phase of the ‘Certification Scheme for Tourist-friendly Eating Places’.
Beginning operations in June 2017, the first two phases of the certificate granting scheme saw 66 and 18 eating places from Colombo and Kandy receiving certificates respectively.
The main objective of the scheme is to recognise, encourage and upgrade the quality and service standards of eating places and to provide clean, safe and hygienic food for foreign and local tourists, according to SLTDA Standard and Quality Assurance Director Chandana Wijeratne. “This concept was originated to recognise and upgrade the quality and service standards of eating places in popular tourist spots,” Wijeratne stated.
“Sri Lanka Tourism has planned to inspect eating places in the popular tourist areas in Negombo, Ella, Dambulla and Sigiriya within the next two months,” he added.
SLTDA Chairman Kavan Ratnayaka was keen to introduce the tourist-friendly scheme, initially for three major categories; touristfriendly tuk tuk drivers, touristfriendly eating places, and touristfriendly home stay accommodation, and also proposed to introduce a common logo for tourist-friendly places to create awareness among the tourists from the airport itself. He also proposed to include these in the e-visa version as a footnote under the guidelines and to create awareness among the tourists on this tourist-friendly scheme.
“The South was the first place where Sri Lanka developed tourism, starting from Bentota downwards. That’s how in the 1960s tourism developed in this country. But today, it is spread throughout the country, and initiatives are underway to take it to the North and East as well,” Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga said.
“There can’t be seasons in Sri Lanka,” Amaratunga opined. “365 days is the season for Sri Lanka. There is rain, there is the sun, but there’s no winter, no snow or anything, so we should get out of the concept of talking of a season. Similarly, the opportunities are great. We have to ensure food safety, safety of individuals, and the safety of goods and personal belongings.”