National Geographic, IFC, EU and Norway boost geotourism in Eastern Province
Tuesday, 14 October 2014 01:23
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National Geographic Maps will promote the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka as a world-class natural and cultural destination. The project seeks to improve the contribution of tourism to local economic growth by promoting geotourism, a form of tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a destination – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.
Implemented by the National Geographic Maps Division, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, the project is being carried out in the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara with the financial support of the European Union’s Support to District Development Program (EU-SDDP) and the Royal Government of Norway.
A community-based nomination process is to be launched to create a National Geographic ‘Geotourism MapGuide’ for the province. The online interactive Geotourism MapGuide will be available after June 2015. Local residents and visitors are invited to nominate, for inclusion in the MapGuide, any landmarks, attractions, activities, events and even local foods that define the region’s character and distinctive appeal. Nominations may be made from 13 October 2014, during local public forums and at www.easternsrilanka.com.
The site nomination process was launched at Geotourism Stewardship Councils held in Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee, where Jim Dion, Director of Tourism Programs for the National Geographic Society Maps Division officially announced the Eastern Province Geotourism Initiative and asked for public participation. Public forums and presentations will be conducted in communities throughout the region to encourage nominations and community involvement.
“The National Geographic Maps Division is pleased to work with IFC to spotlight this region and, in doing so, support and sustain it as one of the treasured natural places on the globe,” said Dion. “The MapGuide will celebrate the area’s abundant scenic, cultural and historical attributes from the unique vantage point of those who live there.”
“Participation by local residents is critical to the project’s success,” said Dion. “Our goal is to get nominations from across the province that identify the things people love best, those ‘must see’ places that reflect the culture and uniqueness of the Eastern Province; from historic sites to modern-day communities, natural features, small towns and enduring landscapes.”
Beyond ‘open-to-the-public’ map point nomination, the MapGuide development process calls for oversight by regional Geotourism Stewardship Councils which have been established in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. Councils will represent a diverse range of public and private sector perspectives with a mandate to resolve constraints and further promote the Eastern Province as a destination.
Councils comprise community leaders and stakeholders focused on historic preservation, natural resources, public lands management, indigenous peoples, traditional and local arts, agriculture, tourism promotion and local businesses.
National Geographic Maps was established as a division of the National Geographic Society in 1915 and has been producing maps for National Geographic magazine and other Society groups for more than 95 years. National Geographic Maps publishes a vast collection of wall maps, travel maps, outdoor recreation maps, atlases and globes.
The European Union’s Support to District Development Program (EU-SDDP) has a financial envelope of approximately 60 million euros, of which projects more than 4 million euros are being implemented by IFC. The program reflects the commitment to align development activities with the vision of the Government; as stated in the ‘Mahinda Chintana’.
