SL Tourism Alliance webinar on conservation tourism trailblazers on Friday

The Conservation Tourism Webinar Series organised by Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance continues on 5 November, with the second webinar titled ‘Sri Lankan Conservation Tourism Trailblazers’, featuring leading tourism operators in Sri Lanka who are operating profitable tourism businesses, whilst actively investing in nature and wildlife conservation. 

The webinar starts at 10:30 a.m. (SL Time) and will provide key insights to why tourism operators must become active conservationists and how investing in nature and wildlife conservation can directly benefit their bottom line.

The speakers are The Haritha Collection/Kulu Safaris Owner/Co-Founder Javana Fernando, Banyan Camp/Soul Riders Bike Tours Owner/Founder Souhaine Malalgoda, and Jetwing Hotels Manager – Marketing and Business Strategy Hashan Cooray.

Few Sri Lankans have spent as much time discovering and navigating Sri Lanka and its wilds as Kulu Safaris Co-Founder Fernando. His unrivalled wealth of experience and knowledge drawn from over 25 years in the field has been relied upon by the likes of Disney Nature Movies (Monkey Kingdom), National Geographic (Wild Sri Lanka) and award-winning wildlife photographer and big cat specialist Steve Winter during his time in Sri Lanka, to name a few. Today, Fernando’s collection of unique experiential properties under ‘The Haritha Collection’ offers some of the most authentic and earth-friendly travel experiences found on the island, focusing on Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, wildlife, nature conservation and local communities. 

Malalgoda is a passionate lover of Sri Lanka’s nature and wildlife. ‘Banyan Camp’ sets the standard in environmentally friendly, sustainable design principles and is one of Sri Lanka’s truly unique, sustainable hotel offerings attracting a high-end clientele from all over the world. The property is almost entirely community driven, with the community directly benefiting from the success of the business. Banyan Camp offers a truly ‘conscious and soulful’ holiday experience, where visitors can immerse in the therapeutic powers of nature and experience the beauty of rural Sri Lanka. 

Cooray is a third-generation hotelier, driven to show the best of Sri Lanka to travellers from around the world. Jetwing Hotels is one of Sri Lanka’s leading hospitality brands with a strong focus on conserving the environment and empowering communities, through Jetwing’s six-pillared Sustainability Strategy. Conserving the planet, especially Sri Lanka’s natural and manmade assets, for future generations of travellers to enjoy, is something close to Cooray and Jetwing’s heart. 

The session will be introduced by Co-Chair of the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, Malik J. Fernando, and moderated by Shangri-La Sri Lanka Director – Communications Niranga Gunaratna.

Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance said: “Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity and natural landscapes are the foundation of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry so it’s vital that we, the tourism industry, do more to protect these precious natural assets. Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance hopes the Conservation Tourism Webinar Series will encourage the industry as well as the country’s leading tourism operators, to contribute to Sri Lanka’s conservation needs at this critical juncture.

“Limited registrations are now open via Zoom. Find out more and watch the broadcast live on Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance Facebook Page  

“Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance is a free, membership-based organisation, formed after the 2019 Easter attacks. Our vision is to build a resilient and sustainable Tourism Industry that embraces international sustainable tourism best practices, and where tourism benefits are driven to communities and people across Sri Lanka at every level.”