IFC-SEDF to Help Small Hotels in Sri Lanka Access Markets Through Portal, Worldhotel-Link.com

Press Contact: Leonard Cordiner
Company Name: WORLDHOTEL-LINK.COM LIMITED
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 61298161774
Website: www.worldhotel-link.com

Worldhotel-link.com will build four travel booking portals in Sri Lanka, working with the IFC affiliate, SEDF. The portals will be owned and operated by locals and will bring online a range of small accommodation providers who do not have a web presence till now.

Colombo, Sri Lanka (PRWEB) July 26, 2006 -- The International Finance Corporation’s South Asia Enterprise Development Facility and Worldhotel-link.com have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up four online accommodation booking portals in Sri Lanka as part of an initiative to develop sustainable tourism in the region that benefits local communities.


The mission of IFC is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing and transition countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives. IFC finances private sector investments in the developing world, mobilizes capital in international finance markets and helps clients improve social and environmental sustainability, and provides technical assistance and advice to governments and businesses. From its founding in 1956 through FY05, IFC has committed more than $49 billion of its own funds and arranged $24 billion in syndications for 3,319 companies in 140 developing countries. IFC’s worldwide committed portfolio as of FY05 was $19.3 billion for its own account and $5.3 billion held for participants in loan syndications. For more information, visit IFC.

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List of hotels and Resorts : Update from i-Escape

The following is a status report on featured hotels located in areas affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia:
SRI LANKA

UK Foreign Office Advice
Following the recent tsunami, we advise against all but essential travelto affected areas on Sri Lanka's eastern, southern and south western coasts until local conditions improve. There were extensive casualties and damage along these coasts including to tourist resorts. For further details please refer to www.fco.gov.uk. Visitors are able to travel as normal to parts of Sri Lanka unaffected by the tsunami.

The South coast (including Galle), East coast (including Arugam Bay) and parts of the South West coast (including Bentota) were affected by the tsunami.

The following properties in these regions are featured on i-escape:

Taru Villas and River House (Bentota): no damage and operating as usual from 15 January
Club Villa (Bentota): no damage and operating as usual from 15 January
The Villa (Bentota): no damage and operating as usual from 15 January
Saman Villas (Bentota): no damage and operating as usual
Taprobane Island (Weligama): incurred damage and currently closed, expected to re-open July 2005
Beach House (nr Tangalle): suffered serious damage and currently closed, expected to re-open July 2005
Sun House and Dutch House (Galle): no damage due to hillside location
Apa Villas (nr Galle): some damage, currently closed, expected to re-open June 2005. Any guests booked here have been re-located to Illuketia
Illuketia (nr Galle): no damage and operating as usual
Secret Garden (Unawatuna): suffered extensive damage and will remain closed until the end of 2005.
Kudakalliya (Arugam Bay): incurred minor damage but closed as the surrounding area and infrastructure was very badly hit
Claughton (Dikwella): no damage and operating as usual

Kandy, the Hill Country and Cultural Triangle were unaffected. Helga's Folly, Stonehouse Lodge, Villa Rosa, Paradise Farm, Boulder Garden,Galapita, Rafters Retreat, Tree Tops Jungle Lodge, Elephant Corridor, Kaladiya, Ulpotha, Colombo House, Horathapola, Havelock Place and Mount Lodge are all open for business as usual.

British nationals in Sri Lanka caught up in the tragedy should contact the British High Commission in Colombo if they have not already done so. The High Commission is open on an emergency 24-hour basis. Its telephone number is:
(00-94 112437336.


THAILAND

UK Foreign Office Advice Following the recent tsunami, until local conditions improve we recommend against all but essential travel to affected resorts and towns along Thailand’s west coast, in particular Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak. Some coastal areas of Thailand were hit by a large tsunami on 26 December, resulting in widespread flooding and damage. Large numbers of casualties have been reported. The infrastructure and public services are severely disrupted. For the latest information please refer to www.fco.gov.uk

The following hotels on  as reported by ."i-escape".  were affected

Golden Buddha (Koh Phra Thong): extensive damage to property, loss of life confirmed and many more missing, island has been evacuated. No word yet as to when the resort could be up and running again.

Sri Lanta (Koh Lanta): suffered no structural damage or casualties but the gardens and furnishings in the lower public areas were destroyed. Scheduled to re-open about 20 January 2005.

The East coast of Thailand (including Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan), was untouched and the hotels there are functioning as normal

British nationals in Thailand caught up in the tragedy should contact the British Embassy in Bangkok, which is open on an emergency 24-hour basis. The telephone number in Thailand is 02 305 8333. A team of officers from the British Embassy and the Honorary Consul have opened an emergency office in Phuket, which will aim to provide immediate practical advice for British nationals in Phuket and other adjoining areas. Its numbers are 076 264 473/4/5 and 076 264484.

INDIA - Kerala

None of our hotels or houseboats in Kerala appear to have incurred any damage and are operating as usual.The Kerala Tourism Board has stated that all tourist destinations are functioning as usual.

INDIA - Goa

None of our hotels have incurred any damage and are operating as usual.

MALDIVES

UK Foreign Office Advice Like other countries in the region, the Maldives was hit by a series of tidal waves on 26 December 2004 A State of Emergency has been declared. There has been serious damage to a number of islands, including some resort islands. Before travelling, those planning a holiday in the Maldives should check with their tour operator that their resort island is operating normally.

The following hotels in the Maldives Soneva Fushi: Buildings received minor damage that will be repaired by 30 December 2004

Soneva Gili: Incurred some damage and is officially closed now. It is their intention to reopen the resort by 1 February 2005. A firm re-opening date will be given as soon as possible.

BBC NEWS |Asian Tsunami disaster: How to help...

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Asian disaster: How to help

Medair - www.medair.org - is providing emergency support to agencies with a long-term presence in Sri Lanka and its medical experts are assessing the likelihood of malaria and diarrhoea.

The International Medical Corps www.imcworldwide.org.uk is a humanitarian organisation providing healthcare, nutrition and training. In Aceh, Indonesia, it is helping to deliver medical assistance, nutrition, sanitation and counselling.

BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific: Animated guide: The tsunami disaster

How It Happended : Illustrated Guide

Resorts are gone but travel Still Goes On

Resorts are gone but holidays must go on - Asia Tsunami - www.smh.com.au

Resorts are gone but holidays must go on
By Scott Rochfort

Widespread death and devastation on the shores of Asia's most popular beach resorts have failed to deter many Australians from visiting the region, with airlines reporting few cancellations or changes to their schedules.

Asian Tsunami disaster: How to help...

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Asian disaster: How to help: "The International Medical Corps www.imcworldwide.org.uk is a humanitarian organisation providing healthcare, nutrition and training. In Aceh, Indonesia, it is helping to deliver medical assistance, nutrition, sanitation and counselling. "

Click Here for More :

marmalade restaurant and bar

marmalade restaurant and bar

http://lushpuppies.blogspot.com

ABC News: U.S. Helping Asia Victims Get Clean Water

ABC News: U.S. Helping Asia Victims Get Clean Water: "U.S. Helping Asia Victims Get Clean WaterU.S. Focuses on Providing Clean Water, Basic Sanitation in South Asian Areas Hit by Tsunami
This is an aerial view of the town of Meulaboh in Aceh province which was flattened by tidal waves on Sunday, photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004. Government estimates put the death toll from Sunday's earthquake and tsunami at 45,268 in Indonesia alone, but UNICEF said Thursday the number could rise to as high as 80,000 with nearly a million children in need of assistance.(AP Photo/Sydney Morning Herald, Nick Moir)The Associated Press
WASHINGTON Dec 30, 2004 � The United States is focusing on providing clean water and basic sanitation in South Asian areas hit by an earthquake and tsunamis, to try to prevent illness and more deaths among survivors.
Secretary of State Colin Powell planned to visit embassies of three of the hardest-hit countries, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, to sign condolence books Thursday. The death toll rose to more than 114,000.
'Our efforts are focused, with the rest of the international community, on water and sanitation, because that is the greatest risk to people's lives,' said Andrew Natsios, chief of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which distributes foreign aid.
Water and sewage systems were inundated by the enormous surge of water that hit coastal areas of 12 countries on Sunday following an earthquake deep in the Indian Ocean. Debris and corpses are also a health hazard."

Malaysia Sets Up funds for Tsunami Victims

Malaysia sets up a special Asian fund

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has set up a special fund named “Asian Tsunami Disaster Fund Foreign Ministry” to enable the Government and Malaysians to contribute to victims of the tsunami that hit several countries.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Malaysia, which was also hit by the killer waves, was moved by the suffering of the people in the other countries.

“This calamity has resulted in a very large number of deaths and enormous destruction of properties in the affected countries,” he said.

Syed Hamid urged Malaysians to donate either in cash or kind to the fund which would be managed by the ministry.

Contributions in cash could be made by cheque to Tabung Bencana Tsunami Asia Kementerian Luar Negeri and sent to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Wisma Putra, Precinct 2, 62602 Putrajaya.

The ministry can be contacted at 03-8887 4000, 03-8887 4386, 03-8887 4332 and 03-8887 4321 or by fax at 03-8889 1717 and 03-8889 2834. – Bernama

Aid Trickes to Tsunami victims

Aid trickles to tsunami victims
Thu Dec 30, 2004 02:30 PM GMT
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Bad water, not corpses, main tsunami disease threat




By Michael Perry
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of tonnes of emergency supplies of tarpaulins, water purification systems, food and medicines are pouring into Asia but little is reaching injured, sick and hungry tsunami survivors.

Some survivors have seen no aid since the tsunami struck on Sunday due to the inaccessibility of the worst hit areas, cut off from the outside world by flooding and downed bridges, and the sheer magnitude of the disaster affecting many countries.

Aid started pouring into Indonesia only to stop at the airport due to a lack of fuel for trucks to move it.

Rescue workers were still struggling to reach some cut off areas and many have been too busy recovering the thousands of disfigured and bloated corpses to help deliver aid.

The United Nations admits only a fraction of aid is getting to where it is needed as the death toll rose above 120,000.

"We are doing very little at the moment," U.N. emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland acknowledged in New York. The United Nations estimates up to 5 million people need aid.

"It will take maybe 48 to 72 hours more to be able to respond to the tens of thousands of people who would like to have assistance today -- or yesterday, rather," he said. "I believe the frustration will be growing in the days and the weeks ahead."

The tsunami relief operation from Indonesia to Sri Lanka to Somalia is one of the biggest humanitarian exercises in history, with 60 nations having pledged over $220 million (115 million pounds) in cash and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of emergency supplies.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an appeal on Thursday for $59 million.

"The scale of this disaster is growing by the hour. The devastation is unimaginable," IFRC secretary general Markku Niskala said in Switzerland, adding that the money would provide emergency relief for two million people.

Oxfam said national aid groups were "rising to the challenge", but called on the United Nations to lead the way.

"Given the scale and scope of this crisis, strong U.N. leadership is critical," said Jasmine Whitbread, the international director of the British-based charity.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan cut short a holiday to oversee the relief operation from New York. The United Nations will launch a major appeal on January 6.

PLEA FOR HELICOPTERS

In Indonesia, the worst-hit nation accounting for more than half the dead, aircraft dropped some food to isolated areas in Aceh on the west coast of Sumatra, closest to the epicentre which caused the tsunami.

But aid was only trickling into Aceh, where hungry crowds jostled for biscuits.

Indonesia has told the United Nations that cargo helicopters are a priority so supplies can be flown into isolated areas. Australia said it would send a giant Antonov cargo aircraft carrying three helicopters to Indonesia.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 80 percent of Aceh's west coast has been damaged and says only one hospital is operating in a province without electricity or fuel and where many roads are impassable. The U.N. plans to airlift emergency shelter into Aceh for up to 100,000 people.

"Much of Aceh, which was closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, has been levelled and the local population urgently needs shelter and basic living supplies," said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers.

DISEASE THREAT

Aid officials say the next stage of the tsunami disaster could be the spread of deadly diseases like cholera, through contaminated water, which could double the death toll.

Many aid groups have focused on supplying clean water, flying in tonnes of water purification systems and tablets, which can supply drinkable water for at least a month.

CARE Indonesia said it planned to distribute 100,000 safe water system bottles. A few caps of chlorine solution will disinfect about 20 litres of polluted water.

U.S., Japanese and Australian naval ships were steaming towards the disaster area with onboard hospitals and water desalination plants. Seven of the U.S. ships can produce 90,000 gallons of fresh water a day and one ship can deploy a field hospital ashore when it arrives in Thailand in about a week.

In Sri Lanka, doctors said survivors were becoming ill.

"People in the refugee camps are falling sick," said M. Rodrigo, district secretary in Trincomalee, in the northeast. "They need medicine more than food and clothing right now."

Malaria and dengue fever are endemic in southeast Asia and flooding and stagnant, polluted water left by the tsunami will create ideal conditions for mosquitoes to spread the diseases.

At Colombo's airport, aircraft with tonnes of much needed foreign aid were landing. The Red Cross said it had sent several flights to Sri Lanka carrying enough emergency supplies for 120,000 and that it was housing some 40,000 people in 66 camps.

But like Indonesia's Aceh province, few tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka were receiving government or foreign aid, with most relief being delivered by religious groups and locals.

"The government has done nothing for us so far. Everything you see happening here is being done by the local community," said Mohammed Tamir, who lost his wife and daughter.

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

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