Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) the Ministry in charge of tourism development in Laos which comes under the Prime Minister's office in Lao PDR, has entered in to an Agreement with Sri Lanka Eco Tours, the ecotourism business promotion arm of Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF), the pioneer national ecotourism organization in Sri Lanka recently. Under this programme, two ecotourism professionals from LNTA has arrived last week in Sri Lanka and working with SLEF/SLET and two tourism professionals from Sri Lanka are already working with LNTA in Laos. This ecotourism development programme between Laos and Sri Lanka is being supported by the Fredskorpset (FK), Norway. This is the first ever ecotourism exchange programme implemented by Laos and Sri Lanka with public and private sector participation.

The Sri Lanka-Lao Ecotourism Programme will run for next twelve months.

Common objectives of the project:

Launch ecotourism programmes in two countries to minimize and alleviate poverty. Implement ecotourism work programmes to preserve natural & cultural heritage of two countriesSupport and working together with other like-minded organizations in two countries to conserve environmental & biodiversity, particularly in the tourism generating areas.Human resource development in Ecotourism sector (existing and new personnel to the industry, and encouraging more female participation).Research, learning & dissemination of information in ecotourism.Promote eco, adventure, religious, heritage and cultural inbound and out bound tourism programmes between two countries

SLEF/SLET and LNTA agreed on;

To position Sri Lanka and Laos as the prime destinations for Ecotourism in South, South East Asia and Pacific Region..To be the leader in networking with ecotourism organizations in South Asia, South East Asia & Pacific region.To be the models in academic and research activities in Ecotourism .Developing pro-poor tourism strategy within the tourism industry segmenst in Sri Lanka, Laos and other parts of Asia and Pacific region. To increase the number of qualified staff working for ecotourism in Sri Lanka and Laos. To have better planning and management of ecotourism products in Lao PDR. And Sri Lanka to make Lao PDR and Sri Lanka as the top destinations for Ecotourism.Ecotourism Professionals from Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation and Sri Lanka Eco Tours will be working at LNTA in Laos to:

Conduct a research study on "Poverty reduction through ecotourism development in Lao PDR" (focus on five provinces such as: Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Khammouane, Champassack and Savannakhet).Help with maintenance of websites LNTACreate an ecotourism network between Sri Lanka and Lao PDR through the websites and email groups.Study different forms of ecotourism development in Lao PDR through different projects such as:

Nam Ha Ecotourism Project.Pro-poor tourism development under Greater Mekong Tourism Development Project.Conduct meetings to exchange lessons learnt of ecotourism development between Sri Lanka and Lao Youth.Assisting in preparing Lao Ecotourism Forum 2009 Assisting ecotourism marketing campaigns. Ecotourism Professionals from Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) working in Sri Lanka in assisting and learning on:

Devising methodologies to assure economic benefits for the women in community-based ecotourism organizations located in tourism generating areas in Sri Lanka.Learn about the Ecotourism Certificate Training programs, Eco-labelling, Ecotourism Guide Training Programms, Renewable Energy Conservation Programms promoted by SLEF.Community Camping, Agrotourism and Ecotourism Packages offered by Sri Lanka Eco Tours to upmarket ecotourists visiting Sri Lanka.Learning of how the commercial tourism travel agents in a country could contribute to alleviate poverty through the tourism programms conducted by Sri Lanka Eco Tours .How SLEF promotes ecotourism in Sri Lanka through Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises (CBEs)