Sri Lanka Showing the Responsible Tourism Way in Kerala – March 2008

A sequel to the Cape Town Responsible Tourism Conference held in 2002, 2nd International Responsible Tourism Conference was held in Kerala India during 22nd to 25th March. The Incredible India 2nd International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations organised by Kerala Tourism and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism – India was attended by 503 delegates from 29 countries. The delegates came with a broad range of experience and expertise from diverse cultures, environments and backgrounds from international organisations, national and local government, local communities, airlines, hoteliers, tour operators, service providers, protected areas, NGOs, academia, architects and planners, the media and consultants.

Destination representatives pledged to take forward the concept of Responsible Tourism into practice, focusing on local economy, well being, local culture and environment. One of the purposes of responsible tourism is that the benefits of tourism are equitably accessed and distributed. It was noted that Sri Lanka is one of the two countries that has developed formal responsible tourism initiatives globally. In the Kerala declaration this fact has been recognized for other destinations to draw experiences of these two destinations- Sri Lanka & Gambia to develop formal Responsible Tourism Partnerships involving formal on going multi-stakeholder processes in their destinations.

Sri Lanka received much recognition to the achievements that have been demonstrated through the Responsible Tourism Partnership Sri Lanka programme through a multi-stakeholder partnership, particularly in environment conservation, safeguarding informal sector tourism livelihoods and addressing long term sustainable tourism isuues such as tourists hassle. Sri Lanka delegation included Prema Cooray, Secretary General of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Hiran Cooray, Co-chairman Responsible Tourism Partnership (RTP) and Charmarie Maelge Director/CEO RTP.

It was evident that RTP’s flagship projects have clearly drawn the attention of the global tourism industry as lessons to be learned in Responsible Tourism. Presentation made by Hiran Cooray discussed the ‘Post tsunami initiatives in Sri Lanka’. He explained that “after the tsunami that the large scale of the informal sector involvement in tourism was reveled but those affected in the informal sector received little assistance from formal institutions and recognized how tourism sector, including the repeat visitors, overseas partners in generating markets and NGOs played a major role in the recovery process especially assisting the informal sector, initially addressing the humanitarian needs and later on playing an active part in the physical rebuilding process. These involved contributions made from repeat visitors and donations from overseas tour operators, their clients and various other organizations connected to the tourism industry”. He further emphasized that “most importantly, the message of ‘you are not alone’ was very clear in uplifting of the moral of the nation and specifically for the tourism industry to bounce back”.

Charmarie Maalge’s academic paper presentation on ‘Sri Lanka’s Responsible Tourism story and achievements’ discussed the background and developments of Responsible Tourism programme in Sri Lanka since its inception two years ago, RTP’s key interventions in making pioneering attempts and the achievements reached specifically dealing with Responsible Tourism. Her presentation highlighted a case study ‘minimizing harassment to tourists and creating greater income opportunities to local communities’discussing the Beruwela LINC project. LINC pilot project at the Riverina Hotel where linking the informal with the formal tourism industry has led to clearing misconceptions and creating a platform for everyone to benefit from tourism, visitors to fully enjoy their holidays without harassment has created a win- win situation all. 72 former Beach Boys attached to Riverina Hotel are now recognized as community tourism operators, tourists are no longer harassed and due to this reason more tourists are venturing out to the beach creating more income opportunities to the locals.

UK based The Travel Foundation is the principal promoter of the RTP. The Travel Foundation supports destination partnerships to develop sustainable tourism according to the priorities of destination stakeholders and where the UK's outbound travel organizations can help e.g. by sending customers, educating staff and influencing suppliers. The RTP advocates a collective initiative for the Sri Lanka tourism sector to introduce a more suitable development and set high standards for a greener destination and it says that our tourism industry has the opportunity to take the leadership in developing appropriate collective measures through simple practical solutions.

The RTP is committed to work with others to take responsibility for achieving the economic, social and environmental components of responsible and sustainable tourism and will aim to get commitment of other stakeholders in the tourism sector, including the government agencies to pledge their support to Kerala Responsible Tourism Declaration.

March 2008