The tourists especially the FIT (Free Independent Travellers) have a genuine concern for the food and beverages they are consuming in various parts of the country. Complaints have been received in the past as to the quality, price of food and beverages, the cleanliness and facilities of the places they visit for a meal. This results in a poor image of overall tourism in the whole country. The travellers make various remarks on social media networks and also in print media.
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority(SLTDA) has stepped in by certifying of Tourist friendly eating places to provide tourists with this need. In june 2017 SLTDA started visiting the eating houses in Colombo and the inspection teams consisted of the SLTDA officials, independent inspection officers assigned by the SLTDA and the municipal authorities. The eating places were classified into ‘A’ and ‘B’ categories. In the first phase of the scheme 66 eating places were categorized in the Colombo municipal area and in the second phase 18 were certified in the Kandy Municipal area.
The third phase was concluded recently in Galle area, to 18 eating places. SLTDA hopes to expand the network to other places of tourist interest, such as Negombo, Ella and other major towns tourists visit.
The objectives of this scheme include the following:
- Food Safety
- Hygiene
- Service
- Establishment of standards in par with international standards
- Create competition among the accredited eating places
- Encouraging them to reach higher standards
- To encourage and increase the tourism revenue in keeping with the targets set by the state
- To create a niche market for Sri Lanka in food and beverage industry for tourists.
- Upgrade the overall quality of food and beverages served to the tourists at eating places.
The beneficiaries would be the tourists coming in groups as well as the Free Independent Travellers. The suppliers to the eating places and others in the area will find indirect employment right throughout the year. The suppliers include sea food, meat, dry rations, water, vegetables, fruitsc and economic conditions of these suppliers will rise to levels higher than the present levels. All in all a new economic cycle will be created boosting the income levels of the people of this country who are directly connected to tourism
by awarding the certification logo to the eating place which complied with basic guidelines of food hygiene and facilities for tourists and to create a competition among similar eating places in the area and encouraging them to upgrade facilities and to obtain the certification will be the prime objectives of the scheme
Parties involved in the certification scheme include:
- The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the facilitator and the implementing authority
- Ministry of Health contributing in formulating guidelines in keeping with the provisions of the Food Act and will actively involve in inspection process of the eating place, through the PHI of the respectice area.
- Local Authority Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government involved in the process of formulating guidelines for eating places and an officer nominated by the respective local authority will be a member in the inspection team.
Certification process:
Stage 1 - identifying eating places in selected tourism zones, which has the capacity to be improved as per the guidelines by random visits by the inspection team members. Later the owners of such eating places will be able to submit an application to SLTDA to obtain the ‘Tourism Friendly Eating Place’ certification.
Stage 2 - informing the short-comings to the owners of the eating places
Stage 3 - Re-inspect the places once the short-comings are rectified and marks are awarded by the inspection team
stage 4 - Awarding of certification ‘Grade A’ or ‘Grade B’. To qualify for a ‘Grade A’ certification more than 75% marks should be obtained at the final inspection.
To qualify for a ‘Grade B’ certification 50% to 75% marks should be obtained at the final inspection.
Any eating place which fails to get 50% marks will not be classified under the scheme. They can improve the facilities and inform the SLTDA about same and to visit them for another inspection.
It is intended to implement the same certification scheme in all tourism zones in the country and to give publicity to the logo of ‘Tourist Friendly Eating Places’ in local print and electronic media and in international magazines and websites.
Benefits to the Awardees:
- Recognition as a ‘Tourist friendly eating place’ with certified hygiene standards followed by four authorities.
- Ability to display the signage with the ‘Tourist Friendly Eating Place’ logo.
- To use as a marketing tool in all publicity materials as a ‘Tourist Friendly Eating Place’
- Publicity will be given by SLTDA for the logos recommending and encouraging tourists to have their meals at certified places
Guidelines for Tourist Friendly Eating Places
An establishment with minimum of eight covers and a maximum of 39 covers where food, drinks and desserts are served to customers on a commercial basis can apply for a certification. Eating places which are taken into consideration are the places that do not comply with gazetted registration guidelines for restaurants by SLTDA but similar places that cater to the domestic and foreign travellers mainly in tourist zones.
Minimum criteria for certification
1. Location
The locality and environment should be suitable for an eating place to be used by domestic and foreign travellers.
2. Access approach
Access and approach should be easy and convenient for the customers and service providers.
3. Building
The building should have proper shelter with a ceiling or equivalent that prevents dust and insects falling into the food. A dry, clean and a levelled floor should be available. The walls should be properly painted or done in a suitable manner befitting the purpose.
4. Maintenance
Maintenance of all areas of the eating place including the building (inside or outside), furniture, equipment, furnishings, fixtures and fittings should be of a standard that assures safety and sufficient hygienic conditions, befitting the purpose.
5. Number of covers
A minimum of eight covers upto a maximum of 39 covers should be available.
There are separate guidelines for the kitchen, cooking staff, supplying, storing of cooking ingredients, dining area, serving staff and guest wash rooms which match the international standards.
The following general guidelines will also apply to the eating places
1. Name boards should be fixed to identify the eating place.
2. A menu card should be available and a price list should be displayed in the premises
3. A valid bill should be issued for all transactions
4. All areas of the Eating Place should be well-lit with natural or artificial lighting
5. Water storage tanks should be closed with lids and cleaned on regular basis to ensure the quality of water.
In addition to the above guidelines, it is mandatory to comply with the provisions of the Food Act No 26 of 1980.
In addition to the foreign tourists, these eating places will also receive the patronage of a large number of local holiday makers and people in transit. Separate wash rooms for males and females is of importance, since guests always prefer privacy.
Sometimes, between two transit points in most of the provinces, we may not come across a single restaurant or food outlet or a coffee shop which matches the requirements of the customers with separate wash rooms for gents and ladies.
The setting up of these eating places is an excellent idea of the SLTDA to serve the foreign visitors and the locals as well. The visitors will be able to enjoy a meal or a tea break with all the conveniences we find in an overseas eating place.
The visitors will come across these eating places via the internet and other social media networks.
It is vital to develop these eating places not only in major Tourist Zones but also in all major cities of Sri Lanka to ensure good eating places in all parts of the country.
In time to come, these eating places will serve as a Franchise Chain of eating places for local families in addition to the visiting tourists.
It is up to the SLTDA officials to have thorough checks of the eating places already certified in Colombo, Kandy and Galle to ensure the compliance with the set guidelines before they embark on venturing into other tourist zones in the near future.
Accolades should go to SLTDA and their officials who masterminded the unique concept in providing these eating places which is a long felt need.
The writer is a corporate trainer in the Hotel Industry and a Value Addition Consultant to Hotels and could be reached via [email protected]
Add new comment