Hikkaduwa Ecotourism Project launched
View(s):Hikkaduwa Women-Centric Ecotourism Project (HWCETP)), Community Camping Site and Home Stay accommodations in the ‘Heritage House’ were opened at Hikkaduwa recently
Palitha Gurusinghe: The President of SLEF
This Ecotourism Project was initiated by the South Asia Women’s Network (SWAN), Sri Lanka Chapter, headed by its Chairperson, Ms. Rohini Nanayakkara and facilitated by Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF), the National Ecotourism Society of Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa Ecotourism Project is networking with similar projects initiated by SWAN member countries in South Asia namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Afghanistan.
Hikkaduwa Ecotourism Project is the first Women-Centric Ecotourism initiative in Sri Lanka that supports the rural women community through tourism, living in and around Hikkaduwa.
The main Objectives of this project are:
n To support rural women in Hikkaduwa area in Gender Empowerment through the development of Sustainable and Ecotourism activities.
n Initiate social enterprise programmes to enhance the economic stability and to develop institutional capacity of the rural women in Hikkaduwa
n Assure Economic benefits to the rural community through the project and contribute to minimise poverty level in the rural villages and to educate the local community in environmental and biodiversity conservation
The Hikkaduwa Ecotourism Project and the Camping Site is beautifully located by the Hikkaduwa Lagoon and in a serene spacious land with an extent of 06 acres, sufficient enough to do outdoor recreational activities. Since the Heritage House and the Camp Site is located just a half a kilometre away from the famous Hikkaduwa Beach Resort and the Marine National Park (Coral reefs), the visitors could enjoy sea-baths and watching coral reefs.
Permanently fixed camping tents for groups or individuals and facilities provided to erect own camping tents by the groups, self-Cooking facilities are some of the facilities available for the tourists. Meals also could be provided on request
Ample parking, facilities for caravan and motor homes also are available, while Pontoon (Angula) non-motorized water craft is available for river safaris. Bird Watching, fishing, angling and mangrove exploration too are encouraged while water, common toilet and shower facilities, solar generated electricityare available.
