Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is focusing on developing theme homestay villages covering each of the nine provinces in Sri Lanka. To facilitate this process, in August 2019, three officials representing SLTDA and the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) were offered an opportunity to follow an intensive training programme of Korea Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Tourism – KOPIST 2019.
During this programme, the Sri Lankan team made a presentation on ‘Development of Sustainable Theme Homestay Village at Attanwala area in the Knuckles Mountain Range’ and it was selected as the ‘Best Action Plan’.
The winning team consisted of Sanjeewa Rathnakumari and Nadeeka Senivirathne from the SLTDA and Ramachandran Jagaram from the MOT. As a recognition and reward for this achievement, the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) has shown the interest in working closely with SLTDA to provide funding support to implement the proposed development project.
In order to take this forward, a team of Korean delegates visited Sri Lanka in the month of December 2019 to conduct an initial feasibility study. The delegation comprised of You Hyun Jang – Director/KTO, Seongjae Kang - Deputy Director / KTO as well as Hyun Soo Kal and Sanghun Park as Consultants.
They spent 3 days in the Pitawala and Attanwala area of the Knuckles Mountain Range along with the officials from SLTDA. During this visit, some useful initial ground information required for the project were gathered and also the Korean delegates spoke to the key stakeholders of the area including government officials of the province and the district. On their return to Colombo, the Korean delegation met the officials of the Ministry of Tourism and the National Planning Department of Sri Lanka with regard to the above project and explained how they expect the support of the Sri Lankan Government to take the project forward if funding support is approved by the Korean Government.
As the proposed project is related to Agro Base Tourism and Community Development, which are in line with the strategy of the new Sri Lankan Government, the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation S.M Mohammed assured her fullest cooperation and support towards the project implementation.
She further requested the officials of KTO to inform her in writing about any obstacles or barriers that need to be addressed at the Sri Lankan Government level and said her Ministry with the assistance of the Hon.
Minister will do the needful to further strengthen the relationship between the Korean and the Sri Lankan Governments. cap
Winners of the ‘Best Action Plan’ of Korea Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Tourism 2019
(KOPIST)
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