ADVENTURE AND ECOTOURISM TAKES TO THE HILLS IN SRI LANKA

The 13th PATA Adventure Travel & Ecotourism Conference & Mart will take place in the hills of Sri Lanka, January 31-February 3, 2001. The venue at Dambulla, a two-hour drive from Colombo, will be the legendary Kandalama Hotel. It was the first hotel in Asia to receive Green Globe 21 certification for its unique cultural and environmental preservation measures. Dambulla is close to five UNESCO World Heritage sites.

About 200 delegates are expected to sign up for the four-day event which will bring together specialist adventure and ecotourism operators. The sellers will be from Pacific Asia. The buyers, from global markets. The aim is to help them all capitalise on the dynamic and growing niche travel sector of ecotourism and adventure.

The mart will be strictly business and appointments will be scheduled in advance.

In the conference component, guest speakers from around the world will address strategic topics such as:

* Bio-Diversity: Challenges for this Century

* Developing Alternative Adventure Travel and Ecotourism Programmes

* How to Streamline Your Marketing Efforts on the Internet

* Community Tourism: Expectations Versus Realities

* The Green Globe Certification Programme

* Spa and Health Resorts

* Agricultural Tours

Guest speakers include Mr. Julian Matthews (UK), Mr. Greg Kaufman (Hawaii), Mr. Pete Peterson (USA), Mr. Tom Beadle and Mr. Graeme Worboys (Australia), to name but a few.

PATA Assistant Director-Events, Ms. Phenthip Chomprang, said: "What we're putting together is a one-stop specialist event which will be an exchange of new ideas and trends as well as a business exchange. Whatever your niche in adventure travel and ecotourism, you'll find it here. The backdrop of Sri Lanka is an exotic bonus."

Pre- and post-event tours offer a unique range of specially-priced Sri Lankan tour options, including:

* Ecotour to national parks, religious sites and to the coast (pre-event; four days)

* Complimentary day excursions to Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa (medieval capital) and Ritigala (nature reserve)

* Cultural tours from Dambulla to cave temples, botanical gardens and the Pinnawela elephant orphanage (post-event; two days)

* Singheraja Forest Reserve, Horton Plains and Polonnaruwa (post-event; four days)

* Hills and Beach Tour (post-event; six days)

There will also be an option of a two-day rafting and trekking tour to Kitulgala and Belilena Caves (pre- or post-event) and a four-day diving tour to Hikkaduwa (pre- or post-event).

Interested buyers or sellers should register by December 1 to qualify for the pre-scheduling of appointments. Seller/booth fees for two PATA-member delegates are US$775. For PATA Chapter members it is US$1,040. For non-PATA members it is US$1,090.

Buyer fees are US$170 (PATA members), US$200 (PATA Chapter members) and US$250 (non-PATA members). A late fee of US$50 per person will be added for registrations after December 1.

PATA is also offering special conference-only and spouse fees. Sri Lankan Airlines is providing a 75 percent discount for buyers in business and economy. Sellers, conference-only delegates and spouses are eligible for 50 percent discounts in business and economy.