KumbukRiver vies for top slot in Oscars for travel and tourism

Sri Lanka’s KumbukRiver has been nominated for the ‘Leading Eco-Lodge in the World’ award at the World Travel Awards, the Oscars of the travel and tourism world. This is the first time Sri Lanka figures among the ‘world’s leading’ classifications at the showpiece annual event which also includes awards by continent as well.

KumbukRiver has been voted among the world’s eight leading eco-lodges and will vie for the top slot when professionals from over 160,000 travel agents in over 200 countries vote for the first-ever Green Awards category at the event on October 9 in the UK. KumbukRiver’s entry is significant as the other resorts nominated are all large-scale and well-established enterprises.

The nomination by the WTA puts the eco-lodge from far-flung Buttala on the world tourism map. Not for the first time, though, as KumbukRiver has secured two other international accolades. KumbukRiver has currently been shortlisted for an award at the Virgin-Responsible Tourism Awards while Times-Online voted it among the world’s 50 best green places to stay, last year.

Sri Lanka also figures in the Asia category, being nominated for Asia’s leading destination award. Two other Sri Lankan entities are recognized this year by the WTA – Jetwing’s Ayurveda Pavilion has received two nominations, one under ‘Asia’s leading Resorts’ and the other in the category of ‘Asia’s leading Spa Resorts’ while SriLankan Airlines is named amongst Asia’s best airlines, completing an unexpectedly bountiful year for Sri Lanka.

The man behind KumbukRiver, Dinesh Watawana says his team wanted to attract the world’s attention to Sri Lanka when they masterminded an eco resort which features a 40ft elephant as its primary villa, but were pleasantly surprised by the news, particularly from the WTA.

“This is literally a story laced with blood and sweat and how this amazing eco-lodge took root in an area not known for tourism and amidst huge strife and hurdles is a testimony to the spirit of youth in this country. True to our vision, the entire project was the handiwork of unemployed youth from the hamlet of Okkampitiya in Buttala who rallied around us,” he says.

“This accolade has proven that sincere efforts to offer hope to where there’s no hope and inspiring rural youth to stand tall in the face of poverty can manifest in the most intriguing of designs which would go on to win the world’s attention,” he adds.