Tourism industry to get more new regulations
Tourism authorities will be issuing a new gazette on regulations for tourist hotels with a new code for different categories in addition to other new standards set in to streamline various aspects of the industry.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Director General Malraj Kiriella said in an interview with the Business Times that new regulations would be brought in for the hotels in different categories to provide improvement.
The new code would look into the new trends in the industry, he said, adding that the old code was mainly for hotels, guest houses, tourist agencies and tourist shops.
The last classification was carried out in 1999 and currently they were looking at bringing in a policy where the star rating would be on par with the international levels, he pointed out.
In this respect, Mr. Kiriella explained they would be strengthening those teams that work within these establishments and develop on the old gazette.
He noted that tourist facilities would be upgraded and they would ensure that there would be a need to develop certain facilities as well.
In addition, improvements would be brought into the old gazette on small luxury tourist hotels, tourist guide services, tourist shops, water based adventure activities and tourist theme parks.
Further new regulations would come in place for vehicle safari tour operators, tourist management companies, Ayurvedic and spa and wellness establishments and resorts, elephant backed safari operations and vessels operations for viewing whales and dolphins, Mr. Kiriella said.