Looking for sustainable stays? This collaboration has you covered

Mahoora Tented Safaris across Sri Lanka

• Under a partnership between RARE India and Sri Lanka’s Eco Team, responsible tourism and sustainability is all set to get a boost

https://www.outlookindia.com: The pandemic has taught people the significance of community and collaboration. It is especially true for the travel and hospitality industry globally, which is just getting back on its feet. It is with the spirit of collaboration to promote responsible and conscious luxury travel across India and its subcontinents that RARE India has partnered with Eco Team, based in Sri Lanka. Under this partnership, RARE India will represent Eco Team in India and while Eco Team will help increase RARE’s footprint in Sri Lanka.

While RARE India is a collection of some of the finest boutique hotels, palace stays, wildlife lodges, home stays and retreats of India and the sub-continent, Eco Team is the most sought-after specialist in Wildlife Tourism and Experiential Travel in Sri Lanka. The collaboration of these two companies known for their ethos towards lighter footprints and community-based travel will benefit the cause of responsible tourism across India and the subcontinent.

Speaking about this partnership, RARE India Founder Shoba Mohan said, “While looking at increasing our footprint in the subcontinent our focus is to find a partner who believed in what we believed in, Eco Team’s small boutique safari Lodges and camps are just perfect for the RARE in Sri Lanka. Our ethos align and it is a perfect partnership that we hope can help us grow together - with the focus on community benefit and partnerships, conservation through tourism, minimising carbon footprints, and preserving local culture.”

Focusing strongly on responsible tourism and sustainability, Eco Team’s collection in Sri Lanka include Ahaspokuna Bush Walks Camp, Big Game Tented Safaris, Mahoora Tented Safaris and Villa Tanderra – Tangalle, now a part of the RARE Sri Lanka portfolio. Situated across the island country and near the wilderness areas, Eco Team camps and safari experiences are curated to showcase Sri Lanka’s pristine wilderness areas. As with all the lodges and nature retreats of RARE India, Eco Team Lodges provide exclusive immersions in remote wilderness areas. The Eco Team properties aims to create awareness and the need to preserve and conserve the island’s striking wildlife in a way that also ensures that future generation will continue to witness these natural treasures.

Regarding the partnership, Eco Team CEO Anuruddha Bandara said, “We are extremely delighted to get into this partnership which is a culmination of a few years of ground work. We have brought in our own Tented Camps and Lodges and a Managed Property to RARE Sri Lanka umbrella already and will be inviting some of the best unique accommodation spaces to come on board next. We are extremely optimistic that the sustainability conscious luxury travellers in India and Sri Lanka will both benefit with our RARE partnership.”

According to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), an analysis of the ten major source markets revealed that tourists from India represented the largest number of international arrivals in 2019. The total number of Indian tourists residing in India who travelled to Sri Lanka were 3,55,002 which is 16.4% of the total inbound share. The aim of this partnership is promoting value-based tourism with conservation and preservation at its core, through opportunity and resource creation for the mutual benefit of both the companies.

Eco Team and RARE India will also collaborate in responsible tourism actions and initiatives, media promotions, awareness creation. While Sri Lanka’s tourism just resumed for international travel post pandemic, the partners will collaborate to promote their community members in the travel industry to usher in the best of responsible travel and conscious luxury.