• More facilities to reserve hotels, tour guides and tickets in the field of tourism.
• Official Tourism Mobile App – ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ will be introduced this year.

Hon. MP. Prasanna Ranathunga

Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga states that the proposed official tourism mobile app for tourism in Sri Lanka will be introduced this year. The mobile app has been named as ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ and is currently being developed, the Minister further stated. According to him, it will be possible to purchase tickets at all the locations related to the tourism with the introduction of this new app.

The Minister indicated that this tourism mobile app would be a turning point in Sri Lankan tourism and is implemented as per ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendors’ - the policy statement of HE. the President, Gotabhaya Rajapaksha.

The Minister mentioned this in the ceremony held  to introduce the mobile app which is to be implemented by www.hotelshipo.com .The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Tourism last Friday (18).

The company, www.hotelshipo.com ,which designed this mobile app, is entirely a Sri Lankan company. The mobile app allows tourists to reserve hotels and accommodation at the same prices available in the country. Particularly, it has the ability to make these reservations through all foreign currencies. Foreign companies generally operate these types of mobile applications and as a result of this, the country loses approximately US $800 million per annum, according to the company. The details on all the hotels in the country will be included to this mobile app.

The Minister emphasized that introducing such kind of a mobile app by a local company should be highly appreciated. A central software system called ‘Single Booking Software’ will be set up to enable tourists to book hotels online, to facilitate transportation, to guide domestic flights and to access tourist attractions; as per ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendors’ - the policy statement by HE the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha. The official tourism mobile app - ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ marks it’s beginning. The mobile app is expected to include full details on tourist destinations, hotels, restaurants, travel information, Google maps, graded tour guides, and tourist police emergency services.

The Minister stated that the government is taking steps to expedite the introduction of new technology to the tourism industry and a program is already underway to popularize tourist attracted destinations in the country through social media, and also the support of the private sector is sought for this. Minister further stated that the government has also decided to give priority to the local institutions in applying modern technology to the tourism industry.

Mrs.D. Sanansuriya, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism,Mrs. Kimali Fernando, Chairperson of the Tourism Development Authority, Mrs.Dhammika Wijesinghe, Director General,Mr. Keerthi Herath, Chairman and Managing Director of hotelshipo were also present on the occasion.