Announcing the Winners of the Grants for Tourism Resilience Program

25th January, 2021 Alliance Updates,News and Updates

The Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance and Good Life X award grants to 10 SME sector tourism businesses, amounting to 50,000 EUR

The Tourism Alliance, together with Good Life X, initiated a program to offer Grants for Tourism Resilience, to support the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector, the worst hit during the pandemic. The grant program was developed as a means to offer relief and to assist tourism SMEs as they navigate the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic to embrace sustainability through innovation.

The call for applications was a tremendous success, with over 320 local SME businesses from across the island submitting proposals for inspired and exciting project ideas in a number of different areas. All applications were reviewed by a selection panel, comprising representatives from both the Tourism Alliance and Good Life X.

It was refreshing to see the innovative thinking and commitment to sustainability demonstrated by all who applied. The selection panel had the difficult task of whittling down the group of potential grant recipients from over 320 to just 30, based on criteria which included a focus on sustainability, innovation, data backed insights on challenges, and the strength of the proposal in terms of demonstrating a plan to bounce back from the difficulties businesses are currently facing.

The shortlisted applicants were then interviewed by the panel, and applicants who were able to successfully demonstrate how their proposed projects could help their businesses recover, while also championing overall sustainable tourism development through supporting their local communities, contributing to conservation efforts, and making an impact on the economy, were selected as finalists.

The following 10 businesses were selected for the awarding of grants, based on the strength of their proposals and the potential of the projects to transform their businesses and contribute favourably to the tourism industry as a whole.

The Grants for Tourism Resilience Winners are:

The grants have been awarded to tourism businesses involved in a number of different sub sectors, including, water sports, wildlife, wellness and Ayurveda, agro-tourism and community tourism. The Alliance and Good Life X are excited to support these businesses as they employ innovative and engaging ideas to promote more sustainable initiatives that will have a longer lasting positive impact on the overall tourism experience in Sri Lanka.

The Grants for Tourism Resilience Selection Panel shared the following, “We are encouraged that so many SME businesses are thinking of innovative, sustainable ideas to uplift the country’s tourism sector. We thank all who applied for this grant, and are delighted to say that we were impressed with the quality and passion demonstrated by the applicants. Congratulations to the winners! We look forward to the success of your inspiring projects, and are confident that they will have a significant impact on the industry.”