ASIAN ECOTOURISM NETWORK (AEN) ESTABLISHED

A long-felt need for the Ecotourism Fraternity in Asia

A group of Asian ecotourism leaders gathered to kick off the Asian Ecotourism Network (Ecotourism Asia-AEN) in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on the 16th of October, 2014, in conjunction with the 8th Asia Pacific Ecotourism Conference. At the founding board meeting, the members unanimously agreed to establish the Ecotourism Network for Asia housed in a public organization named Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) located in Bangkok, Thailand.

AEN Board Meeting, June-2015

Masaru Takayama, Board Member of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) and the Executive Director of Japan Ecolodge Association was unanimously elected as the founding Board Chair of the Ecotourism Asia. Albert Teo, Board Member of TIES and the Managing Director of Borneo Eco Tours, Malaysia and Palitha Gurusinghe, Board Member of TIES and the President, Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) were elected as founding Vice-Chair. Ms. Supaporn Prachumpai, Vice president, Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Association (TEATA) has been elected as the Secretary of AEN and Sanath Weersuriya, Vice President of Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation and the Travel Editor, Sunday Times and Daily Mirror was elected as a Founding Board Member of the AEN.

Asia Ecotourism Network (AEN) launched-October-2014

According to the Press Release issued by the AEN, the Ecotourism Network will supply more hands-on connections and relevant opportunities in Ecotourism for members working together at a regional level providing more networking and business opportunities, significant information, educational materials and networking prospects to both, small, medium and large organizations within Asia. The founding member countries comprise of Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, South Korea, Mongolia, India, Laos, Pakistan, Bhutan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Philippines. For more information, you can request to join their Face Book page of Asian Ecotourism Network (Ecotourism Asia) where the latest updates are shared among members.

Ecotourism Asia is a long-felt need for the promotion of Ecotourism at regional level. AEN is making arrangements to introduce diverse programmes on Ecotourism Research, Training, Education, Marketing Certification etc. for the benefit of member countries in Asia.

An Action Plan of the Ecotourism Asia will be released soon.

The Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN) was officially launched in June, 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, the Director-General of Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), who officially declared the opening of an AEN office housed at DASTA's headquarters in Bangkok.

AEN Board Meeting, June-2015

According to a press statement, DASTA will house AEN for two years (until June 2017), with a potential extension beyond that date.

According to the founding chair, Masaru Takayama, Executive Director of the Japan Ecolodge Association, the network will supply more hands-on connections and relevant opportunities for members working together at a regional level.

"It will provide more networking and business opportunities, significant information, educational materials and networking prospects to both small and large organizations within Asia.

The strategic plans of AEN will be set during the first board meeting on June 3, 2015. The prioritized projects will be focused on investigating the state of ecotourism among the AEN members and better serve as the platform for Asian ecotourism industry.

Palitha Gurusinghe-Founding Vice-Chair
Sanath Weerasuriya-Founding Board Member

The founding member countries comprise of Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, China, South Korea, Mongolia, India, Laos, Pakistan, Bhutan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Philippines and Australia.

The support by DASTA includes the provision of the central office to support operational activities of the AEN on the 30th floor of TIPCO Tower in Bangkok, Thailand, along with computer equipment, office automation facilities, and access to meeting rooms.

To become a Member and part of the AEN please contact:
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF)
Phone: 0777 631334 Email: sleco@sltnet.lk Web:www.ecotourismsrilanka.net