Sri Lanka tour & beach vacation

Planet

Reducing water consumption
Sri Lanka, like many countries around the world, suffers from acute water shortages at certain times of the year. Even though the island experiences two monsoons a year, the reservoirs and tanks are not of sufficient capacity to supply the country’s requirements. This not only causes water shortages in villages and towns – in some areas they are limited to only one hour’s supply a day during these periods – but also contributes to power cuts since much of Sri Lanka’s electricity is generated by hydroelectric power. Reducing water consumption while traveling in Sri Lanka will contribute directly to conserving essential water supplies. Much of the Sri Lankan population wash in rivers and lakes and so supplied fresh water is used mainly for cooking and drinking.

Please share our concern for the environment - SAVE WATER.

Eco facts:
• Less than 20% of the world's water is fresh water.
• Acute water shortage has become a recurring problem in many parts of Sri Lanka and the rest of the world.
• Conservation is the greatest resource when it comes to water supply.

Limiting non-degradable waste production
In previous times many of the goods and products sold in Sri Lanka were packaged in natural biodegradable materials. Today, however, much of the packaging is non-degradable and this waste pollutes the environment, particularly when it is not disposed of correctly. Limiting the amount of non-degradable waste generated helps to preserve the environment and reduces the potential negative impact on wildlife.

• Try to buy goods and products in biodegradable packaging. For example, many pharmacies in Sri Lanka dispense medicines in paper bags rather than plastic bags.
• Limit the number of plastic carrier bags acquired when shopping by putting your purchases directly into your own bag without extra packaging.
• Reduce the number of plastic water bottles used by storing your drinking water in a re-usable water container. (Bringing a water filter, potable iodine solution or water purification tablets with you will help limit the number of water bottles required.)
• Always dispose of non-degradable waste carefully since it can have a detrimental effect on the environment and wildlife.

Transportation
Our small group sizes (up to 8 persons) allows us to use cars, small vans or jeeps when traveling around the island and when visiting rural areas and national parks, where use of larger vehicles in such areas often results in widening and ‘blacktopping’ of rural paths for coach access. The resulting effect on the environment can be devastating. We feel that our small group sizes also lead to less impact both on the environment and the people that we visit as well as allowing for more supervision, advice and explanations with the high ratio of guides to travelers.

People

We actively encourage responsible and sustainable travel to Sri Lanka. By working closely with our associate company in Sri Lanka and other partner organisations, we are endeavouring to promote cultural exchange, social awareness, self-employment and self-development.

Jetwing Sea
Jetwing Sea has implemented a number of initiatives designed to simultaneously harness and preserve the strength of the surrounding communities and environment.

The hotel features an onsite biomass boiler that runs on sustainably harvested cinnamon wood. The boiler meets the entire hot water requirement of the property during the night, while solar-thermal panels produce hot water during daylight hours. Overall, the entire hot water demand of Jetwing Sea is met through a centralised system that operates entirely on renewable energy. The staff cafeteria also uses both biogas and biomass stoves, which are also operated using sustainably harvested cinnamon wood.

The 15 kW off-grid roof mounted photovoltaic solar array generates electricity primarily towards room lighting; an in-room indicator shows when solar or grid electricity is being used.

Jetwing Sea also features a rainwater harvesting system where water collected from the top of the property is filtered and later used to supplement the freshwater requirement for the swimming pools.

The onsite effluent treatment plant processes 100% of wastewater generated by the property, and utilises both aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment methods, the end product of which is used for irrigation of the coastal gardens.

Food waste from the kitchens and restaurants is added to a biogas digester on a daily basis, which then produces a methane-rich output gas that helps fuel modified stoves in the staff kitchen. The digester also features a heating jacket with a dedicated solar array, which helps speed up the digestion process.

Joining the collective sustainable commitment of other Jetwing hotels in the area, Jetwing Sea collaboratively maintains a ward that serves a number of patients from local communities that visit the Negombo Teaching Hospital.

Jetwing Sea maintains a thriving organic garden amidst the limited coastal greenery found on the property, maximising its use by growing a variety of local fruits and herbs when possible, and later using them in meals prepared by the hotel kitchens. Furthermore, all glass water bottles used throughout the property are sourced from the bottling plant located at Jetwing Blue nearby.

Guides
We only employ English-speaking Sri Lankan chauffeur guides who are all licensed by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. Experienced guides for trekking, safaris and other specialist activities are hired locally and have extensive knowledge of their chosen area of expertise.

Accommodation
We actively promote locally owned hotels that employ local workers, particularly accredited eco-friendly accommodation. This policy contributes directly to the local economy and provides local employment while enhancing the visitor’s experience of Sri Lanka.

Restaurants
Embracing local cuisine is an essential part of any vacation if the visitor is to understand the country’s culture and savour its culinary delights. We encourage travelers to eat at traditional restaurants, roadside eateries, street vendors and market stalls in order for them to enjoy and experience authentic Sri Lankan food.

Community-led projects
The Asian Tsunami highlighted the plight of coastal communities in Sri Lanka and our initial projects were targeted at Sri Lankan individuals and communities devastated by the tsunami (please ask us for details). However, many other communities away from the coast also lack essential materials and services and our objective is to offer long-term support to such Sri Lankan individuals and communities. By channelling all donations received by Forgotten Village Sri Lanka (an independent charitable organisation) into community-based projects on the island, we hope to provide sustained assistance to these communities in their endeavour to improve their lives. We make a contribution to Forgotten Village Sri Lanka for every vacation booked.