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Contactless card-based payment system boosts tourism business – Avanthi Colombage
Contactless payment methods are becoming increasingly popular throughout the hospitality sector, and for good reason. They embrace some of the most cutting-edge technology while providing guests with a more user-friendly experience.
Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Visa said: “When a tourist visits a new country, they experience various purchase touchpoints – for accommodation, dining and shopping but also for telecom needs, transport, sightseeing, etc. And the process of making payments for these should not be of concern. For instance, contactless payments are accepted in most countries and tourists will expect the same ease of tapping to pay even in Sri Lanka.”
Today’s savvy traveller looks for experiential travel beyond the famous hotspots, seeking connections with the local community, through closer interactions that define their travel experiences. 66% people surveyed by the Sustainable Travel Report 2022 seek ‘authentic’ experiences that give insights into local culture and customs, away from commonly visited tourist attractions. This experience can be simplified by enabling them to simply tap their card, issued in their home country, at any POS terminal across Sri Lanka, eliminating the need of cash.
Further, consumers expect access to services anytime, anywhere, necessitating that cashless transactions are enabled seamlessly across the country. As people start to make sustainable travel a conscious choice, the use of low carbon emission transport, electric rental cars and public transport are likely to increase in holiday destinations, where digital payments could take the lead.
Avanthi said: “Every card issued by Visa in Sri Lanka today is a contactless card, so cardholders can pay for various purchases by tapping. The increase of contactless transaction limits by the payment industry in Sri Lanka is a significant move, enabling consumers to tap their card without of a signature or PIN for purchases up to LKR25,000. We believe that while local consumers will adapt to contactless payments even faster as they get accustomed to it, tourists will find more convenience and confidence in making contactless payments which they are already familiar with.”
The potential for Sri Lanka as a tourist destination continues to grow. It was featured among the top 10 most Instagrammable Places in 2023, top 10 places to visit as per Forbes and the potential of MICE events is also increasing. Initiatives such as the Tourism Investor Forum and the active promotion of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination will further aid this growth.
All these developments necessitate seamless, secure payments. “The more Sri Lanka enhances its appeal as a top-notch tourist destination, the more important it is to ensure safe, convenient payment options across in-store purchases, ecommerce and experiential travel. Payment acceptance via cards and digital credentials hence becomes a vital area of focus,” Avanti said.
In many countries, contactless payments have aided consumer trust as the card does not leave the hands of the consumer. It makes transactions and money management efficient and empowers the ecosystem. With more and more consumers and businesses choosing to go digital, and with more inbound tourists, the future of cashless payments in Sri Lanka also looks set to grow and become an enabler for growth.
“Ensuring an up-to-date, safe and secure environment for cashless transactions is a critical part of powering a digital economy. As digital transactions continue to grow, improving, enhancing and investing in payment security will support this growth. We are positive that these moves will go a long way in ensuring the robust growth of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination of choice,” Avanti said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
