Sri Lanka Tourism enhances traveller experience

Sri Lanka Tourism said this week that it has adopted a proactive approach to harness the benefits of technology into its offering to remain competitive in the digital era. Sri Lanka’s apex tourism body is integrating technology into its operational infrastructure and has invested in value-adding IT initiatives to enhance quality of services, human resources and the traveller experience, the state-run body said in a media release.

Championing the National Policy priority to improve the digital footprint, Sri Lanka Tourism appointed eMarketingEye as the digital marketing agency to manage social media and digital marketing campaigns. Digitalsation is focused on six major pillars being Heritage, Scenic Locations, Adventure Activities, Wildlife and Nature, Sri Lanka cuisine and Wellness. For the period January 2020 to April 2021 organic post reach has increased by 452 percent while 290 million impressions were created with a record 12 million views across all social media channels.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Mobile Travel App version 2.0, supported by the World Bank and ADB under the guidance of ICTA will be launched to meet COVID-19 health protocols and will include nearly 5000 lesser known sites, Google Maps, ticket purchases to tourist sites, ability to rate establishments, a customer experience management system, an emergency button to share location with the Tourist Police as well as a traveller feedback survey.

“Featured on the Traveller App will be approximately 5000 off the beaten track locations providing diverse experiences for the international and domestic traveller. This initiative was also carried out to support sustainable tourism and SME’s in order to build community-based tourism. As part of the strategic initiative the Sri Lanka Tourism ( srilanka. travel) and SLTDA official websites will also be revamped to reflect the enhanced experience offered to our visitors. The ADB is currently assisting Sri Lanka Tourism with the content creation for the official Mobile Travel App and have invited those interested to express their interest,” according to Ms. Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism.

As part of the initiative to showcase Sri Lanka, the Kandy Perahera in 2020 was telecast live for the first time in Thailand in the local language, with the support of missions in Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassy in Sri Lanka.