Thema Collection Partners with MDF to Measure & Reduce their Carbon Emissions
L to R – Mathi Thayanan, Country Team Coordinator MDF Sri Lanka – Tourism, Yasas Nanayakkara, Business Advisor MDF Sri Lanka– Tourism, Mariyam Piracha – Country Director MDF Sri Lanka, Maxime Wickaramasinghe, Director, Thema Collection, Chamin Wickaramasinghe, CEO, Thema Collection and Ashan Karunananda, Head of Sustainability, Thema Collection.
With the escalating impact on the environment and natural resources, fueled by anthropogenic activities, there is a growing interest among travelers to shift towards more sustainable travel experiences. Taking a significant stride towards sustainability in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka, Thema Collection joined hands with Australia’s Government-funded Market Development Facility (MDF) on the 29th of November 2023.
This transformative initiative is strategically designed to address pivotal elements, including the measurement of the carbon footprint associated with Thema Collection properties, heightening awareness, enhancing staff capacity, and actively sharing success stories with stakeholders. The overarching objective is to nurture a community of individuals deeply committed to achieving sustainable practices. Notably, this marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka, where the carbon footprint of an entire hospitality chain is meticulously measured.
Eco-friendly hotel chain with 12 unique properties
During the prelude to the signing of the agreement, Mr. Maxime Wickramasinghe, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Thema Collection, emphasized the brand’s commitment to sustainability. Highlighting Thema Collection’s identity as a thematic, eco-friendly hotel chain with 12 unique properties across Sri Lanka, he underscored the numerous initiatives already in place to promote sustainable tourism. Mr. Wickramasinghe expressed optimism that this collaboration with MDF would not only further Thema Collection’s sustainability endeavors but also reveal the brand’s strategic plan to meticulously measure and actively reduce the carbon footprint of the entire chain, underscoring a dedicated effort towards achieving this ambitious goal.
Sri Lanka as a sustainable tourism destination
MDF Country Director Maryam Piracha mentioned that MDF aims to work with leading businesses to expand the growing market in tourism by supporting the industry’s transition to sustainable practices and supporting businesses to develop market segments that enhance competitiveness. She further added that MDF is significantly invested in positioning Sri Lanka as a sustainable tourism destination by partnering with businesses that are committed to responsible and climate-friendly initiatives with vital players like Thema who encourage sectorial change.
Eco-conscious travelers
Mathi Thayanan, Tourism Country Coordinator further added that as the industry is on a path to recovery, shifting towards sustainable practices while focusing on quality would develop tourism more responsibly and will thereby give higher returns attracting eco-conscious travelers, positioning Sri Lanka as a year-round destination which is one of the main aims of this partnership.
Creating a better and more sustainable future.
Mr. Chamin Wickramasinghe, CEO/Director of Thema Collection, weighed in on the challenging issue of a lack of awareness regarding sustainability practices. He stressed the importance of building awareness, starting with hotel associates, to ensure the success of sustainability initiatives. According to Mr. Wickramasinghe, fostering awareness at the grassroots level within the hotel industry is a crucial step towards creating a better and more sustainable future.
Reduce the carbon footprint
Thema Collection and the Market Development Facility’s collaboration represents a united front in the pursuit of sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka. By combining their expertise and resources, they aspire to measure and reduce the carbon footprint and inspire a wider community to embrace and implement sustainable practices.
Thema Collection – Eco-friendly hotel chain in Sri Lanka
Thema Collection is a thematic, eco-friendly hotel chain in Sri Lanka with 12 properties committed to setting up distinctive themes, to bring the most wonderful stories filled with authentic Sri Lankan experiences to life.
For More Information Visit: https://www.themacollection.com/sustainability/
About Market Development Facility
The Market Development Facility (MDF) is an Australian government-funded program that promotes sustainable economic development operating in diverse sectors, such as Tourism, Agricultural inputs, and Specialty Coffee, catalyzing business innovation in emerging and frontier markets and fostering inclusive growth whilst enhancing private-sector investment.
