Sri Lanka Tourism unveils streamlined website

Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga launches the new website, while SLTPB Chairman Kishu Gomes looks on – Pic by Lasantha Kumara 

By Charumini de Silva

Sri Lanka Tourism last week unveiled www.srilanka.travel, a new streamlined website combining the both Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (STPB) websites with a view to serve potential tourists as a ‘one-stop-shop.’

The new website is conceptualised to bring together all the information of the previously separated SLTDA and STPB websites, listing 220 attractions on eight focused themes targeting a range of tourist segments to help them plan their visit to Sri Lanka.

SLTPB Chairman Kishu Gomes said the new web portal has all the up-to-date information on a simplified platform for travellers to organise their trip to Sri Lanka, thereby maximising opportunities to lure more tourists to the country at this crucial hour.

He pointed out that Sri Lanka had been losing a lot of potential travellers before as relevant information was being disseminated between two websites. 

“Looking at statistics, we saw that there were a lot of lost opportunities because of having had two separate websites. We have about 90,000 visitors a month browsing through our websites. With both websites now shown on a single page, we hope to have more tourists making the maximum out of this new service,” Gomes added.

SLTDA Director ICT Chinthaka Abeykoon said the website also features all registered service providers including the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, and allows tourists to apply for their required visa type online.

The website also contains information relating to investment, regulations and tourism statistics.