Sri Lanka banking on ecotourism value
Agustina Wayansari, The Jakarta Post, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The beautiful view of rolling waves greeted us as our bus stopped along the coastline of Negombo, a 45-minute drive from Colombo, to watch a romantic sunset.
The popular resort area, ideal for tourists interested in a quick, not too abrasive entry to the exotic, was only one of the stops on an "Eco-Holiday Tour", organized by national flag carrier SriLankan and Jetwing Travel for Indonesian media.
The one-week tour mixed some of the country's most famous cultural attractions, such as the Dambulla cave temple and amazing Sigiriya rock fortress, with visits to an elephant orphanage and other wildlife sanctuaries.
After the economically crippling 20-year civil war, the government and private sector are working hand in hand to promote tourism, including ecotourism, to tourists interested in visiting the island of 19 million people.
It was a mixed blessing that, during the war, some areas of the country in the east and north toward Jaffna peninsula, including Gal Oya, Wilpattu and even parts of the most famous wildlife park, Yala, were closed to development.
Today, with the tenuous cease-fire holding, their lush forests, mountain landscapes and exotic beaches are pretty much in a pristine state and ready for ecotourists to hit the trail.
Outside Kandy, up a long, winding hill reminiscent of areas of Puncak in West Java, is Hunas Falls hotel, which provides a variety of ecotourism opportunities for its visitors, including three-day mountain treks and bird-spotting.
"Many of our guests, such as those from England, Germany and the Netherlands, take a keen interest in the programs we offer," said general manager Hyacinth Gunawerdana.
The concern for the environment has been instilled from the top down: While those in the media party commented on how Sri Lanka's landscape looked like Indonesia before the development boom 10 years ago, we were struck by the garbage-free streets.
Hotels are also playing a part in advocating ecotourism.
"We invite students here and explain to them about the importance of safeguarding the environment," Hyacinth said. "Our environmental program include the obligation to dispose of garbage at the available dump facilities and tree-planting campaign or reforestation."
Others in the tourism industry are also offering ecotourism- focused packages. Jetwing has established an Eco-Holiday Department whose tasks include arranging vacations for nature enthusiasts.
The department is also actively engaged in promoting public awareness about the environment by regularly organizing a variety of events related to environmental conservation.
Most hotels also provide conservation experts to explain wildlife issues to their visitors. Many also have bulletin boards, with announcements about new conservation developments and comments of visitors.
Adventure travel is also popular among locals and foreign visitors. Many hotels organize trekking and camping, rafting and kayaking, canoeing, diving, big game, fishing, whale watching and biking.
Tour operators are optimistic after the end of the Severe Acute Respiratory (SARS) scare.
"SARS caused worldwide fears of flying to most Asian countries, including Sri Lanka. But, let's take the positive side of the issue. The previous move taken by several countries to prohibit people from traveling to our country means an effort to prevent our country from the possible infection of the virus," said Jetwing Travel managing director Shiromal C. Jayaweera.
As part of its efforts to raise funds for tourism promotion, the Sri Lanka Tourism Board (STB) is levying a US$5 fee on every visitor leaving the country, effective starting in July.
Shiromal said the collected funds would not only be used to finance the tourism promotional projects and community development, but also the establishment of a training institute to develop manpower in the tourism sector.
Europe remains Sri Lanka's primary target, but the STB is also upping promotions of the country in India, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Singapore, Japan and Indonesia, with a main draw card being its Buddhist heritage sites, such as in Kandy.
Ecotourism spots in Sri Lanka
* Pinnawella Elephant Orphanage: Started in 1975 with two baby elephants, the government-run orphanage has grown to 64 animals, including orphaned elephants brought from all parts of Sri Lanka as well as those born in a captive breeding program. Abandoned and injured baby elephants are reared and trained to become working animals. Feeding and bathing time in the Mahaoya River provides the best time to admire the animals close up. Located about 90 km from Colombo.
* Yala (Ruhuna) National Park: The largest and the most famous national park in Sri Lanka, located in the southeastern corner of the island, about 309 km from Colombo. Recognized as one of the best places to photograph and study leopards, the park covers an area of over 100,000 hectares and is divided into five blocks. Some blocks, such as Yala East, are only now reopening after the civil war. Park is open to visitors until quite late in the evening to allow maximum opportunities, and there are lodgings on site.
* Bird sanctuaries: There are 339 varieties of endemic birds and a further 129 species of migrant birds. Sanctuaries are found at Kumana (about 312 km from Colombo), Bundala (about 259 km) and Kalametiya (224 km), all located on Sri Lanka's southeastern coast. Highland sanctuaries are Udawattakele, about 118 km from Colombo and Peak Wilderness, near the famous mountain Adam's Peak.
* Botanical gardens: The country has three beautiful botanical gardens -- Peradeniya at an elevation of 488 metres, Hakgala (1,680 metres) and Henarathgoda in the low country. Peradeniya, about six km from the hill capital Kandy, is the largest, encompassing about 60 hectares. Allow plenty of time to enjoy the great variety of flowers, plants and mature trees -- and don't miss the giant Javan fig tree, covering an impressive 2,000 square meters.
Srilankan offers a "6 Days, 5 Nights" holiday package. You can choose to visit Sri Lanka only for US$488, or Sri Lanka and Maldives for $730. Above prices include return economy airfare on Srilankan, five-night hotel accommodation with breakfast, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking chauffeur-guide, porterage and arrival and departure transfer, meeting and assistance at the airport for arrival and departure. Contact Srilankan at tel. 521-2009.