The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Ministry of Tourism have commenced drafting guidelines and criteria to register mobile phone applications (apps) and web based services which will cater to the tourism sector, following concerns raised by the domestic industry about moves to endorse a tourism app, The Daily Morning learnt.
When contacted, SLTDA Chairman Priantha Fernando told The Daily Morning that the Authority was in the process of drafting criteria and guidelines for web based services and mobile phone apps for use in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. “There has been a lot of concern in the industry and there have been some misunderstandings that we (SLTDA) were trying to go ahead with an exclusive app. That is not so. We are in the process of developing the criteria and guidelines for web-based solutions, applications and travel apps for tourism. Once the criteria and regulations are prepared, and gazetted, any party can come and register with us. Regulations, and controls will come in as checks and balances. And, once the licensing process is finalised, any party can apply for licensing, provided that they fit the criteria and conform to the regulations,” Fernando explained.
According to industry sources, over the last few months, certain officials at the Ministry and the SLTDA had been attempting to push through a proposal by a local company, which is affiliated to several key business figures, to seek an official endorsement from the SLTDA for a new ‘Tourism information App’. “This move, especially the vigour with which the proposal was encouraged by some of the officials at the Ministry, caused concerns for us and other stakeholders. Sri Lanka has never officially endorsed any website or app related to tourism. Also, we had concerns about the privacy of the data collected and whether that data can be sold to other entities. There was no clarity on such concerns. Also, the SLTDA had no regulatory process to license any such electronic entity. Such an app can easily be used as a booking app, which would create an uneven playing field for local hoteliers and agents. Therefore, we were concerned about who is behind this app, and why the Ministry was pushing it to be adopted without a proper regulatory process. We have raised our concerns with the relevant authorities,” a senior industry player in the hotels sector told The Daily Morning in terms of anonymity.
Commenting on the interest to introduce travel apps and websites, Fernando said that there have been many interested parties. “However, we haven’t had guidelines or licensing for such apps or websites before. Once the regulations are drafted, an expert committee, including cyber security specialists, will vet the process,” Fernando said, adding that the lack of a regulatory framework may have led to a misunderstanding of the proposed app by some in the industry.
Responding to a question about the proposed travel app, Additional Secretary (Administration) to the Ministry, D.L. Sannasooriya told The Daily Morning that several proposals had been put forward, including one from a local private company. Sannasooriya stressed that no decision will be made until the regulatory process is formulated and gazetted. When questioned, he confirmed that there had been concerns raised about the app by stakeholders, and also regarding the proposed endorsement.