Business Planning sessions conducted for SME Handicraft makers at Mannar & Vavuniya from 8th March – 6th April 2021
Tourism industry has become one of the main and effective industries in Sri Lankan economy with the increase of global travelling. It was recognized as a main foreign exchange earner for the national economy. Yet, the foreign exchange that is generated by tourism industry could be distributed among the stakeholders for a sustainable development of the country while alleviating poverty.
There are many potentialities still which have not explored to link with the tourism sector by focusing value added process among these potentialities, handicrafts sector represents to showcase the Sri Lankan identity and provides the
self-employment opportunities especially for rural women in Sri Lanka.
Palmyra is being unique to Northern Province of Sri Lanka depicts an immense potential to be developed as a tourist friendly industry under the amenities cluster. Tourism amenities or the things where a tourist needs to consume, experience, and feel from another destination could make a bigger impact for their journey. Understanding this requirement, Northern Tourism launches a pilot programme with four palmyra handicrafts making societies in Mannar and Vavuniya to professionalise them under tourism value chain.
Preliminary programme on Business Planning was conducted by training professionals of
SANASA Campus in March and April 2021 as two days session for each society.
Accordingly, 27 women handicraft makers from Vavuniya district attended from Nedunkeni Palm Resource Development Coop Society on 8th & 9th March 2021 and Aatral Arasi Palmyra Handicrafts Women society on 5th & 6th April 2021.
Members from Aatral Arasi Palmyra Handicrafts Women society attending the programme….
Members from Nedunkeni Palm Resource Development Coop Society attending the programme….
Similarly, 27 women palmyra handicraft makers from Mannar district also attended from Nannatan-Musali Palm Coconut Resource Development Co-Op Society on 15th & 16th March 2021 and Natura Palmyra Handicraft Development Society Puthukamam on 18th & 19th March 2021.
Palmyra Handicraft makers from Nannatan-Musali Palm Coconut Resource Development Co-Op Society attending the programme…
Members from Natura Palmyra Handicraft Development Society Puthukamam concentrating on the session….
Qualified trainers from SANASA Campus delivered the training in order to develop their own business plan for the society.
Mr.S.Ajenthan & Mr.A.Sudershan conducting the sessions at Nedunkeni Palm Resource Development Coop Society
Mr. Ajanthan, Certified Trainer for Business Planning delivering the knowledge to Aatral Arasi Palmyra Handicrafts Women society, Vavuniya. Trainer Mr. A Sudarshan also was a part of the training pool for this programme.
Trainer Ms. A. Vasuki & Mr. Ragavan conducting the session for Nannatan-Musali Palm Coconut Resource Development Co-Op Society in Mannar.
At Puthukamam, Mr. Raghawan explaining the strategic planning process in simple format….
Certified Trainer, Mr. T. Balasubramaniyam explaining the gaps of production using examples at the session held in Natura Palmyra Handicraft Development Society Puthukamam.
“We have identified the dimensional form of tourism value chain using the 6A’s approach whereas the amenities are concerned as one of the components among them. Handicrafts represents a large segment under the amenities where tourists used to value” said Ms. Harshi Abeynayake, Tourism Value Chain Officer explaining the objective of the programme at Natura Palmyra Handicraft Development Society Puthukamam Programme.
She explained that there are many opportunities available in Hotels for palmyra based amenities and the future sessions will be important to know them. Ms. Raghavi from Northern Province Tourism Bureau assisted the Value Chain Officer throughout the programme connecting with the community members.
Among the identified issues, low quality of the production, high cost of the production poor designs, poor packaging poor marketing approaches, lack of knowledge of ICT were highlighted. “We will be able to connect you with the Tourist Hotels who are waiting to convert their hotels into nature friendly resorts after the pandemic. Therefore, it is very important to understand the designs and specially the colour combinations that are required to decorate hotels. I’m thankful for EFECS Project to lead this pilot programme to enhance the capacities of SMEs in handicraft sector and looking forward to connect with the Palmyra Development Board to further streamline this process” said Mr. Stanley Mascarenhas, Chairman of Northern Province Tourism Bureau addressing the participants of Natura Palmyra Handicraft Development Society Puthukamam on 18th March 2021.
A women entrepreneur presenting at the Natura Palmyra Handicraft Development Society Puthukamam Programme.
Participants were given an opportunity to present their individual business plans at the session.
Four Comprehensive business plans prepared at the end of this programme which would be benefitted for the future growth of these societies.