‘Making Community Based Tourism
Work for Everyone’
The Jetwing Youth Development Project at
Jetwing Vil Uyana
With specific reference to Jetwing Vil Uyana, an
artificial wetland created by Jetwing in Sigiriya and
its role in developing community based tourism
Hiran Cooray
Deputy Chairman, Jetwing Hotels
1
Background
Jetwing had over 20 acres of barren land
in Sigiriya with building rights.
There were also a few acres of paddy
land which could not be built on.
The site was too far from Sigiriya Rock
for the rock to be a feature.
The bare landscape was seemingly
ordinary.
2
The Dilemma
What could Jetwing do on a seemingly bare land
which could make it exciting?
3
A Wild Idea
In 2001 Jetwing announced its plans to become an important
player in eco-tourism and set up a specialist subsidiary called
Jetwing Eco Holidays (JEH)
JEH suggested to Jetwing Hotels to follow the model of
conservation agencies such as the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust
(WWT) and RSPB to create a wetland reserve. This would be
the key focus of the new hotel. The site would be a fusion
between a nature reserve and a luxury hotel.
An architect’s brief for a ‘wetland nature reserve’ was
circulated.
4
A Multi-disciplinary Team
Fortuitously, Jetwing met Sunela Jayawardene
who is an environmental architect.
The architect brought in consultants and
contractors who had done assignments for the
Irrigation Department & the Reedbed
Conservation Society.
The eminent scientist Chris Panabokke was
amongst the scientists who studied the site. He
thought Jetwing could not have found a better
site to create a wetland.
Jetwing assembled an in-house team of
engineers, landscapists, naturalists etc.
5
A Wetland From Bare Land
Could we change this;
to this;
6
Preliminaries
The first 24 months was spent on soil & hydraulic
gradient surveys. In parallel 21 permissions were
obtained.
We had to assess whether a private wetland
reserve was feasible.
- Was the catchment adequate to offset
precipitation and retain water throughout the year?
- Would it seasonally dry out completely?
- Was this a crazy idea?
7
Harvesting Water - sensitivity
to community
• We had a golden rule. No water was ever to be taken
off the public irrigation network. We had to harvest,
from rain, every drop of water we will use.
• We must never be in competition for utilisation of
water with the local farmers. We made a decision not
to adversely impact the socio / cultural sensitivity of
the area.
8
Construction
The first 9 months of construction was a hydraulic
engineering project, which was inspired by ancient
traditional irrigation marvels, for which Sri Lanka
was known for.
9
A Wetland Complex
Slowly it took shape
- A storage reservoir
- A show reservoir
- A linkage channel
- Weirs
- Sluice gates
- Spills/turn offs
Not just a lake in front of a hotel, instead a full fledged wetland
complex designed and engineered from scratch.
The first hydraulic undertaking of this magnitude by a hotel
chain
10
The Arrival of Wildlife
In mid construction, the wildlife began to respond to the
creation of the habitat, as against the world phenomenon
of loosing wild life, we attracted it.
Crocodiles,otters, kingfishers, etc, began to colonise the
site with bulldozers still at work.
Wildlife adapts to the presence of people
11
The Arrival of Wildlife Contd.
In the USA and Europe there are designated reserves
for dragonflies, dazzling hunters of the wetlands.
12
Moving On…
Having taken care of the nature aspect, we turned our focus to
the people of the area. Looking after the community is a
holistic view and that both are part of a complete spectrum of
responsibilities.
13
Involving The Community
There were various aspects that Jetwing had to consider
when involving the community;
- From the inception of the hotel.
- Capital intensive
- Had to look at the community involvement model
rather than community based as in community
ownership
14
Why Involve The Community?
Co-partnership
The hotel would help the community in the form of bringing
business both direct and indirect. The community would help
the hotel by way of cooperation, in every aspect possible.
Acceptance
Community initiatives included teaching English to the youth
in the surrounding areas of Sigiriya and opening routes to
employment. The birth of the Jetwing Youth Development
Project.
Learning
Traditional agricultural practices were learnt and practiced.
15
The Jetwing Youth Development Project
(JYDP)
Having received the approval of the local priests and their
cooperation in getting the students, the project commenced on
the 7th of January 2006, with the participation of 120 youth of
the area.
Objectives of the project were to:
• Primarily face the manpower shortage, our hotels and the
Hotel Industry of Sri Lanka at large, face.
• As a vehicle to involve and pass on some of the benefits of
Tourism to the local communities.
16
JYDP Contd.
Objectives of the project continued
• To contribute to solve the youth unemployment of Sri Lanka
and by doing that contribute in solving youth frustration by
providing gainful employment initially at Jetwing Vil Uyana.
Background to the type of students
• School leavers, rural boys and girls.
17
The Progression of The Project
• Initially the students were taught to read, write and speak
English.
• Following a Personality Profile Test which was held at the
end of two months, students were selected to be trained in
four areas of a hotel. Namely; Front Office, Housekeeping,
Food & Beverage and Kitchen.
• Simultaneously the students were trained in the rich
cultural history of Sigiriya and neighboring Dambulla.
18
The Progression of The Project contd.
• They were also introduced to Sri Lanka’s amazing
biodiversity.
• On Saturday 10th June, a passing out ceremony, conducted
by the students was held.
• Thereafter, they moved into the hotel for the final months
of preparation prior to the opening.
19
Looking Toward The Future
• 50 youth were taken into employment at Jetwing Vil
Uyana.
• Training and assessment is now conducted periodically on
an ongoing basis.
• Following the success of this model at Jetwing Vil Uyana,
this project will be implemented at other hotels in the rural
areas of Sri Lanka.
20
A new paradigm
Hotels can combine the economic benefits of luxury
tourism and at the same time be managers of wildlife
reserves and be sensitive to communities.
21
Research
As with other hotels, Jetwing will conduct research and provide
accommodation to wildlife researchers. They will also be
supported with all necessary facilities. Subjects that will be
researched include, nature, culture and anthropology.
22
Community & Environmental Policies
Jetwing Hotels are modernising into environmentally
responsible hotels which minimise their environmental
impact.This includes upgrading waste treatment
processes, seeking the co-operation of guests in
minimising consumption of water, usage of laundry etc.
Documented in Green Directories.
Jetwing also has a policy of working closely with local
communities so as to contribute to the economy of the
community.
23
Jetwing’s CSR Policy and Programs
Jetwing have always believed in involving the local
community at every stage of a hotel’s operation. Their
policies include areas such as;
• The ‘Tuk Tuk through the community’, a training program
for three wheel drivers in Galle, which won the PATA Gold
Award in 2005.
• Recruitment of people from the neighboring community.
• Trading with suppliers in the community so as to reduced
fuel usage.
• LINC – A project initiated to bring about a change process for
the beach vendors of Beruwela, in order to eradicate a long
standing social issue towards tourism.
24
Thank you
- There is so much more to do.
- Jetwing remain committed to being a responsible
tourism company and to be a guardian of our
environment and be empathic to local communities.
- Thank you for the invitation to speak.
25
Credits
Story Telling: Hiran Cooray
Images: (c) Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne/www.jetwingeco.com
Hasantha Lokugamage.
Preparation:
Angie Samuel
26