| Tourist Facilitator Training Programme The Domestic Tourism and Resorts Management Division at SLTDA recently conducted a tourist facilitators’ training programme for safari jeep drivers and trackers of Yala and Bundala National Parks. The Programme was held at Tissamaharama Rest House with the collaboration of Ruhunu Tourism Bureau and Hambantota District Chamber of commerce (HDCC) during 17 th -19 th June 2010. 35 tourist facilitators consisting of 12 trackers and 15 jeep drivers participated for the programme which included a series of lectures and a practical session. Major subject areas included tourism value to the area economy, tourism industry-past, present and future, duties and responsibilities of a tourist service provider, guidelines to serve in a national park, social, cultural, environmental and economical impacts of the tourism industry, code of ethics for tourist service providers, risk management and first-aid, and, the role of Police Tourist Division. The participants were also educated on the importance of English language skills. The program ended on the 19 th June 2010 with the technical training at the Yala national park. The Domestic Tourism and Resorts Management division undertakes Community Relations programmes in all tourism developed areas on needy basis including the integration of informal sector operations into the formal sector. | 
