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| Sunday, 10 February 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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East Coast, a hotbed for eco-tourism Golden sands, crystal clear waters and pristine beaches. This is the East Coast's best kept secret. Nevertheless, tourism experts argue that sun and fun is not the only thing that the East Coast of Sri Lanka can offer. According to them, there is great potential to develop the East coast as a location for scientific and eco-tourism. "Tourism resources in the East Coast of the country are simply world class and there is great potential to develop the area, specially as a location for scientific and eco-tourism," says Philip Dearden, a tourism expert from Canada. He said that the East Coast is a combination of natural, adventurous, cultural and historic resources. Whale watching and crocodile viewing are some of the fastest growing segments worldwide in eco-tourism. For example, one of the main income earners for Jamaica and Australia is crocodile viewing. Since there is a good population of crocodiles in the East Coast, providing facilities for crocodile viewing will be a good income earner, he added. Another aspect of tourism which is becoming popular is peace parks. This needs a management plan and infrastructure while the number of visitors should be restricted so that it will not disturb the natural surroundings. He suggested that Yala East be developed as a world heritage and peace park. Mr Dearden said that since experts pay more, restricting visitors will not have an adverse effect on the income. It will minimise damage and maximise returns. He described the Sri Lankan blue whale as an internationally competitive product and developing a whale watching centre will attract tourists who especially visit various countries to watch whales. The coral situation is not good due to the coral being damaged or parched, he observed. The harbour, Pigeon Island, Mahaweli Eco Lodge and the Somawathi Chethiya in the district of Trincomalee and Pasikudah, Panchchenkeni eco lodge and the Batticaloa lagoon in Batticaloa some of the places that can be developed as tourist spots. He said: "Reef restoration should be developed on a sustainable basis and not on an eco-tourism basis." Involving local people in planning from the outset, increasing the awareness at both local and community levels, developing participatory tourism plans before development is allowed to proceed, developing benefit streams for the local community to minimise economic leakage, protecting the resources on which tourism is based as well as minimising wasteful consumption are some of the lessons to be learnt when developing locations to attract tourists. |
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