Waruni Jayathunga
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has launched an innovative e-learning platform aimed at improving the management and operational standards of homestays across Sri Lanka.
The initiative is part of ADB’s technical assistance programme (TA 9881 SRI: Supporting Tourism Resilience) and is designed to build resilience and sustainability within the tourism sector, which has faced multiple challenges in recent years.
Recognising the critical role of homestays in driving tourism growth, ADB and SLTDA have developed this e-learning platform to empower homestay operators, especially micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including women, youth, and individuals in remote areas.
The platform offers self-paced, multilingual courses in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, covering key aspects of homestay management, marketing, and sustainability.
The e-learning platform comprises nine modules tailored to address diverse aspects of homestay operations,
- Start Your Homestay Business (SYHB): A guide for aspiring operators, including registration and business setup,
- Renew Your Homestay Business (RHB): Mandatory for renewing SLTDA registrations,
- Improve Homestay Business (IHB): Modules on operations, digital marketing, financial management, sustainability, guest communication, and safety,
- Diversify Your Homestay (DYH): Strategies for creating unique guest experiences and generating additional income,
- Improve Homestay Business (IHB): Adopt sustainable practices for waste management, energy saving, and profitability,
- Improve Homestay Business (IHB): Accounting and Finance: Financial management, including budgeting, cash flow, and record-keeping,
- Improve Homestay Business (IHB): Safety, Health, and Hygiene: Ensure global standards for cleanliness, safety, and food hygiene,
- Improve Homestay Business (IHB): Guest Communications and Reviews: Develop communication skills, manage reviews, and build strong guest relations,
- Diversify Your Homestay (DYH): Create unique guest experiences and additional income streams.
These modules are enriched with creative multimedia content, including graphics, voice narrations, and videos, featuring real-life homestay stories from Sri Lanka.
The development process involved extensive consultations, including a review of existing training programmes, literature reviews on global best practices, and a design-thinking approach to ensure the content meets the needs of diverse stakeholders.
By improving the standards and formalising homestay operations, SLTDA aims to enhance the tourism MSME sector’s resilience and sustainability. The platform is expected to contribute significantly to economic recovery, creating a ripple effect across the tourism value chain.
The launch ceremony, held today at Jetwing Colombo 07, brought together key industry stakeholders, including representatives from ADB, SLTDA, and the tourism sector.
