Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation - SLEF - Ecotourism Sri Lanka

ACTIVITIES, PROJECTS AND ADVOCACY

ADVOCACY

• Networking among small and medium scale ecotourism operators in the Asia and Pacific Regions.

• Encourage public and private sector organizations in Sri Lanka to initiate and support Community Based Ecotourism    Projects CBEs).

• Provide consultancy services to small and medium scale travel agents and hotel companies who wish to start ecotourism    ventures and to work in close liaisons with Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism in Sri Lanka (ASMET)

• Assist start-up small and medium scale tour companies in securing “green loans” from banks and other financial institutions.

• Encourage public and private sector organizations to establish a fund in support of Community Based Ecotourism    Enterprises (CBEs) and environmental conservation efforts, which are initiated by the CBEs.

•  Develop a “Conservation Volunteers Sri Lanka Program” to motivate young people to protect the fragile ecosystems and    biodiversity resources of Sri Lanka.Establishing a “Sustainable Tourism Network in Sri Lanka” linking all ecotourism    stakeholders and operators.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation is also the initiator of first ever Research Data Base on Ecotourism in Sri Lanka and South Asian Region (RETSA), that was launched in December, 2003, with the expertise and technical support provided by Fredskorpset, Oslo, Norway and Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (APFEJ) Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation pioneered in formation and development of Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises (CBEs) in Sri Lanka to assure socioeconomic and sociocultural benefits to the rural communities living around tourism generating areas through ecotorism.

• Research and Training Centre for Ecotourism in South Asia (RETSA) launched in December, 2003 and is being updated regularly.

• Data Base on Sri Lanka Tourism attractions. Already established and being updated regularly.

• Kirala Kelle Community Based Ecotourism (CBE) Project, Matara, Sri Lanka

•Research and Training Facility located at the new SLEF Head Quarters located by the Bolgoda lake (close to Piliyandala)

Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation has already developed a Data Base on Sri Lanka Tourism providing in-depth information and valuable data on tourism attractions of Sri Lanka and related facts which are of interest to visiting tourists both domestic and international, academics, students and researchers in tourism. With the opening of its new head quarters, the SLEF has made arrangements to conduct Ecotourism Research Programmes, residential and non-residential training programmes on nature, adventure and ecotourism and biodiversity importance of Sri Lanka for national tourist guide lecturers, chauffer guides, site and area guides and interpreters who are active in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. SLEF's Research and Training Institute is equipped with modern multimedia and audio-visual facilities to conduct workshops and seminars to small gatherings and a very good reference library with a good collection of books, periodicals, video films, compact discs, reports on tourism, ecotourism, nature and adventure tourism environmental and biodiversity conservation etc. on developed and developing countries of the world. For those visitors both domestic and foreign who are genuinely interested on a ‘learning experience' on ecotourism, the SLEF could offer comfortable, eco-friendly accommodation at its complex at a nominal cost, but on a prior reservation. Since the SLEF Office Complex located by the beautiful Bolgoda Lake, camping, bird watching, canoeing, angling and fishing, village walks and open fire cooking demonstrations etc.always possible at any time

Offers training programmes on the following subjects/areas

• Develop and conduct training, research, and education programs on Ecotourism planning and management

• Ecotourism marketing

• Design & development of ecolodges

• Training of ecoguides and interpreters

Supports

• A cademic sectors in Ecotourism research

• Locate financial resources to support training/researches.

• Develop library facilities and dissemination of information on Ecotourism.

• Genuine Ectourism Packages for the visiting tourists in Sri Lanka.

• In designing and conducting awareness campaigns for the conservation of natural tourism resources in the region.
New Ecotourism Travel Network in the Southern Coastal Belt in Sri Lanka through Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises (CBEs) already initiated by Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF)

CURRENT COMMUNITY BASED ECOTOURISM PROJECTS PROMOTED BY THE SLEF

• Waulapane Lime Stone Caves (Udawalawe)

• Karametiara CBE (Buffer zone of Udawalawe National Park)

• Walathwewa (Ulpotha) CBE Project in association with Sri Lanka Australia National Resource Management Project (SLANRMP)

South Coast Projects

The SLEF has identified 9 (nine) destinations/sites/projects in the South Coast to support community

01. Kiralakelee Community Based Ecotourism Project
02. Toddy Tappers Community Organization from Kalutara to Kosgoda.
03. Sea turtles hatchery and research project in Kosgoda.
04. Maduganga estuary, a community based Ecotourism project in Balapitiya village.
05. City of “devil dancers” and mask carvers, a community in Ambalangoda.
06. Hikkaduwa coral reef project (CBE)
07. Handicraft manufacturers' Community guild in Galle.
08. Mangroves, Bird watching and Turtle Watching facilities located at Rekawa, Ussangoda and
Kalametiya (RUK) area
09. Foster Parents project (FPP), Dodanduwa, Galle to support 28 tsunami affected school going children

Objectives/Programmes achieved since 1998 and up to 2005

01. Formulation of National Policies, Guidelines and strategic Actions Plans for Ecotourism in Sri Lanka (May, 2003) in association with Sri Lanka Tourist Board and NORAD

02. Formation of Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises (CBEs) to assure socioeconomic and sociocultural benefits to communities through tourism, thereby supporting them toalleviate poverty
(some with Sri Lanka Tourist Board and International NGOs)

03. Establishing first ever Research and Training Institute to develop quality ecotourism product
(at the SLEF Head Quarters, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka)

04. Establish a Data Base and Research Centre for South Asian Region (RETSA) to research and disseminate information on Ecotourism

05. Establish a Small and Medium Scale Tour Operators Network to handle ecotourism business in Sri Lanka (In association with VCPC and German Technical Corporation (GTZ), Sri Lanka
06. Providing advance training programmes for the ecoguides/interpreters on nature, adventure and ecotourism

07. Formation of Sri Lanka Eco Tours, as a ‘model Travel Agency' to fund the activities undertaken by SLEF to promote ecotourism, nature and adventure tourism in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Eco Tours is the only commercial tourism travel agent in Sri Lanka that supports directly to sustain community based tourism projects initiated by Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF)

In 2005-2006 the SLEF hope to achieve the following targets

01. Conservation Volunteers (Sri Lanka) Programme for local and foreign Volunteers

02. Introducing Community Broadcasting System to promote ecotourism and environmental conservation in Sri Lanka

03. Introduce Electric Vehicle Alliance of Sri Lanka (EVASL) for the purpose of operating short distance transportation within the cities and tourism resorts. We also plan to introduce small scale electrically powered canoes and small boats for the tourist transportation in the lagoons, lakes and the rivers, through Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises (CBEs)

04. Promote in establishing a Community Tourism Fund (CTF) to support communities in the tourism generating areas
in Sri Lanka

05. Formation of an institution and fund for support Sri Lankan youth who are interested in Adventure sports and activities