The final phase of the Sustainable Tourism Destination Program commenced in Dambulla. The Governor of the Central Province, Attorney-at-Law Lalith U. Gamage, emphasized that a sustainable tourism destination can only be created through a well-planned approach that integrates both political and administrative efforts.
A budget of 17 million rupees was allocated for this initiative under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Regional Economic Development Institute and the Provincial Tourism Department. The final stage of the sustainable tourism development initiative took place at the Dambulla Tropical Village premises, under the leadership of the Honorable Governor and other officials.
The integrated sustainable tourism development process connected various stakeholders, including municipal councils, divisional secretariats, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and other tourism-related service providers. A total of 428 tourism service providers received training on acquiring the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes for earning foreign exchange. Furthermore, they were provided with legally recognized local and international certifications to ensure their registration and credibility.
This initiative also included a follow-up support plan to assist the trained individuals in their careers. A separate event was held to appreciate the contributions of all those who played a role in the success of this project.
The Governor highlighted concerns over misleading reports suggesting that 1.5 million rupees had been spent on travel around Colombo. He pointed out that inaccurate information could damage the reputation of sustainable tourism destinations and stressed the importance of training programs to counter such misinformation.