Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Friday, 30 January 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The workshop held in Ampara was organised in collaboration with the Ampara District Chamber of Commerce and Industry and attended by hoteliers and restaurateurs. The workshop aimed to build awareness on biogas technology and promote sustainable and responsible tourism based on the principles of environmental integrity, social justice and maximising local economic benefits.
“The workshop organised is an important step for the tourism industry that will act as a stepping stone for all stakeholders in the sector. It is a cost effective and innovative method hoteliers and restaurateurs can make use of in order to minimise overheads and other costs,” said Ampara District Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO A.K. Wasanth.
The hospitality industry is one of the largest drivers of economic growth. It is also one of the most energy-intensive, accounting for around one-fifth of total industrial CO2 emissions. Opting for biogas is a viable option for the tourism sector as it brings hotels one step closer towards obtaining a green certification and also results in waste management, energy generation and bio slurry that can used as a fertiliser.
The Eastern Province hotel industry has five key thrust areas including good governance, development of tourism related infrastructure, tourism manpower and institutional capacity; and enhancement of business opportunities.
“With the rise in population there is a constant battle for the division of resources. With the EU funded SWITCH-Asia initiative to promote biogas for hoteliers, we transfer technology and skill required to construct biogas units and also create partnerships with financial institutions that are willing to provide loan schemes to interested stakeholders,” said Project Manager Damitha Samarakoon.
The EU SWITCH-Asia initiative is a joint partnership between People in Need, Cz and local partner Janathakshan funded by the European Union on a budget of EUR 665,000 geared to promote sustainable consumption and production.
The project is focused on up-scaling biogas technologies for sustainable development, responsible tourism, economic growth contributing to poverty reduction and climate change mitigation in Sri Lanka.
The project targets tourism Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), households and public authorities in the country while building the technical capacity of manufacture and construction SMEs in biogas technologies. The project also supports micro-finance institutions to develop financial schemes providing loans for biogas installations to SMEs and households.
The EU SWITCH-Asia initiative assists tourism SMEs and households benefit from sustainable solid waste management and cost savings through energy and resource efficiency. Tourism SMEs adopting “green” technology will also increase their marketing potential and gain the access to “green finances” provided by micro-finance institutions.
