Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation - SLEF - Ecotourism Sri Lanka

FK South-South Exchyange Programme – 2008-2009
Between Sri Lanka Eco Tours and Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA), Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)

Between Sri Lanka and Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA), Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is being planned at present. The Lead Partner of the Prgramme is Sri Lanka Eco Tours (SLET), the Travel and Tourism Arm of the Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF), the pioneer Ecotourism Organization in Sri Lanka.(www.ecotourismsrilanka.net) SLET generates income through its limited tour operations and major part of proceeds is channeled back to develop Ecotourism in Sri Lanka and assuring Economic benefits to the Community Based Ecotourism Projects initiated by the Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF), in different parts of tourism generating areas in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Eco Tours is the only model commercial travel agent in Sri Lanka which ploughs back its tour income to assure economic benefits to the communities living around tourism generating areas of Sri Lanka.

Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) is a government organization, which is equivalent to Ministry level. Its main duties and responsibilities are to elaborate the laws, rules and regulations on tourism and the tourism industry, strategy on tourism development and promotion targeting in the National Socio-Economics Development Plan. The LNTA has the right to administer, manage and monitor the activities of the tourism operation units as the policies and the laws specify. The LNTA is also in charge of human resources development in the tourism sector as well as international cooperation with Greater Mekong Sub region countries (GMS), ASEAN, PATA, WTO and other international organizations.

The LNTA is chaired by a Minister and three Vice-Chairmen. It has five departments such as: Planning and Cooperation Department; Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department; Hotel and Tourism Management Department; Personnel and Administrative Department; Tourism and Hospitality Training Center. Also all Provincial Tourism Departments of 17 provinces are under the supervision of the LNTA. The LNTA is very interested in involving with Sri Lanka Ecotourism.

A feasibility study and the Planning Meeting had already been concluded between SLET-LNTA and FK and the programme to be commenced in Septembre, 2008