Awareness program for Community Tourism in Negombo
An awareness program was
conducted to the persons who have engaged with the community tourism industry
in Negombo started simultaneously the arrival of the team from AHI in Japan for
an exposure visit in 2018. Accommodation for the Japanese team was arranged as
homes stay in Negombo. The awareness
program was held at the office of Sri Wimukthi Fisher Women Organization on 29th
of January 2019. Around 15 members participated in the meeting. Mr. Herman
Kumara, National Convener of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Miss Deepa
Subashini, district coordinator of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization and
Mr. Nuwan Pradeep, the coordinator of community tourism program also
participated in the meeting. The areas given below were taken
into the table for discussion in the meeting.
- Views of the members in relation to the arrival of the team from AHI to their home stay in 2018
- Experience in providing the accommodation facilities for the AHI team
- Strengthen and weakness according to the experience of them
In the meantime of the
discussion, a presentation was made related to the exposure visit being
organized in Polpithigam and participants shared their views based on the
presentation. Participants pointed out some weak areas that they experienced in
organizing home stay in Negombo and they concerned to successfully organize
home stay minimizing the weakness in future. It realized that new two homes
should be identified for the coming program
because two house owners have requested to clear off from the program.
Marketing system related to the community
tourism was concerned and it further discussed about the usage of internet in
promoting the home stay in future. Most of participants agreed to implement
this process as a necessity according to the existing era. Intervening Mr.
Herman Kumara, he mentioned that community tourism is a good opportunity to
earn extra income for the members and it should be further concerned about this
initiatives. Finally, the meeting was ended with the agreement to meet again.
