The Travel Foundation and AITO Establish Program To Support Post Tsunami Sri Lanka

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. October 14, 2008

UNITED KINGDOM, June 22, 2005. Six months after the tsunami disaster The Travel Foundation and AITO have successfully joined forces with Sri Lanka's tourism industry to create a "Responsible Tourism Partnership". The partnership, which includes a number of industry leaders in its membership, will play a major role in the development of responsible tourism programmes and projects in Sri Lanka following the tsunami. The partnership of industry, government, local community and environmental organisations has been created to develop responsible tourism policies for the whole country with initial priority given to those areas worst affected by the tsunami.

Jointly the partnership's members will be responsible for developing a sustainable future by supporting efforts to restore the natural environment and local livelihoods, establishing training for local tourism work and helping communities develop new activities for tourists.

Following the submission of a number of specific ideas which will help to establish the first green shoots of livelihood recovery for the local communities in tsunami areas, the Travel Foundation is recommending to the Responsible Tourism Partnership a managed plan of action commencing with the following projects:

. A National Crafts Council project training young unemployed girls from the Galle District to make crafts using natural materials, for sale to tourists.

. Support the Tree Society of Sri Lanka in their work with foresters and rangers to re-vegetate land affected by the tsunami using indigenous native species. This will include research in to using mangroves for coastal protection.

. Working with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Tourism and others to create a sustainable fishing village that will enable fisher folk to re-establish their livelihoods and accommodate tourists in their midst. A new visitor attraction will show fish being brought to shore, processed and sold in the traditional way.

A local manager will be employed to work directly with the Responsible Tourism Partnership to support the chosen projects and be responsible for the development of longer term initiatives. The manager will be supported from the UK to link the local programme to the needs of the UK industry and its customers, ensuring it will have the best chance of long-term success and sustainability.

Sue Hurdle, Director, The Travel Foundation said: "Following the tsunami disaster we decided to concentrate our efforts on one destination in order to have the maximum impact. It is our policy always to work with local people, business, government and voluntary groups to develop sustainable trade. We want to ensure Sri Lanka is a destination that holidaymakers will want to travel to as they did prior to the tsunami. AITO has done a fantastic job of identifying the best way forward in Sri Lanka and choosing those projects that really involve the local people and will help get the tourism industry firmly back on its feet."

Funds pledged by AITO members will establish these projects but the Travel Foundation are appealing to the wider travel industry to help support their work in Sri Lanka by donating funds themselves or encouraging customers to make a contribution. Further information is available on www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk or call 0117 927 3049.