Arugam Bay Community Based Eco Guide Association Sri Lanka

WHO WE ARE
The Community Eco-Guide Association (CEGA) is a tourism association based in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka. CEGA has a collaboration between local community based organizations (CBOs), cooperatives and associations founded to promote income generating activities related to tourism with the hope of improving the wellbeing of local people. The association is made up of 13 Eco-Guide Members, it was formed during a community-based ecotourism project implemented by the Institute for International Economic Cooperation (ICEI) in partnership with Sewalanka Foundation and founded by Italian Cooperation and Regione Lombardia. During the project was in progress, a professional guide training course has been conducted and 13 guides were officially licensed as Area Guides by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, specialising in ecotourism and community-based tourism.
OUR VISION
To promote income-generating activities related to community-based tourism for the sustainable development of local communities through environmental conservation and the enhancement of cultural heritage.
OUR MISSION
To involve local community organizations to share economic benefits coming from the development of tourism To promote respect and understanding between the host (local communities) and the guest To provide quality tourism services to enhance the destination as a tourist area: By identifying natural and cultural resources in the area; and By creating high value tour packages To network with all stakeholders and form partnerships To preserve and respect the local environment and culture To conduct environmental awareness and other training programs for local communities To develop a marketing strategy
OUR ACTIVITIES
Operations connected to the Community-Based Tourism Centre in Arugam Bay such as providing information to tourists. Organize/promote/manage/run (Crista I’m not sure which of these the CEGA do but you should add a descript word here about what they actually do in regards to the tour) tour packages relating to: National parks Archeological and historical sites Lagoon and sea safaris Handicrafts tour Camping destinations for tourists Actively involve the participation of other community-based groups dealing with organic and safe food production, handicrafts and sea/lagoon tours Conduct eco-guides training program (for new guides) Conduct eco-guides training upgrade (for licensed guides) Run training and awareness campaigns on the environment, cultural conservation and valorization for other community-based organization/cooperatives Website development and marketing