Strengthening Partnerships, Expanding Access & Advancing Sustainability
November has been an exceptional month of progress for The Pekoe Trail Organization (TPTO), marked by strengthened government collaboration, increased trail accessibility, expanded sustainability initiatives, and major industry partnerships.
Here’s a recap of the key highlights:
1. Strengthening Government Engagement
TPTO continued advancing strategic engagement with key government agencies:
- Steering Committee agency head meetings were convened with the Ministry of Plantations, Disaster Management Centre, Provincial Tourism Ministries, Forest Department, JEDB, and other stakeholders.
- Constructive discussions were held on operational coordination, trail upkeep, and long-term policy support for The Pekoe Trail.
2. Trail Pass Expansion & New Sales Channels
Significant progress was made in expanding trail pass accessibility:
- Trail passes are now sold at the Ceylon Tea Museum, with newly installed.
- JEDB is exploring reselling trail passes at Stage 1 (Hanthana) and Stage 2 (Loolkandura), with added value services.
- The Department of Railways is assessing the feasibility of becoming a reseller.
3. Tourism Collaborations & Commercial Growth
- Chrysalis “Sri Lanka Less Travelled” project successfully concluded.
- New 7-day and 3-month Trail Pass membership models introduced, receiving strong uptake among both locals and international hikers.
- Hotel merchandising partnerships expanded, and existing TPTO merchandise stock was successfully sold in bulk to hotels and partners.
- The hotel and DMC reseller funnel continued to grow.
- Booking.com referral links are now operational, and TPTO is building a comprehensive accommodation directory for hikers.
4. Conservation, Biodiversity & Research Initiatives
- TPTO formalized a partnership with the Wilderness & Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) to promote sustainable tourism in sensitive biodiversity corridors, including the Peak Ridge area.
- A successful meeting was held at Dunkeld Estate to finalize signage and cost sharing for conservation aligned trail infrastructure.
- TPTO obtained World Trails Network (WTN) membership, further elevating credibility and aligning with global best practices.
5. Trail Maintenance & Infrastructure Upgrades
Significant improvements were carried out across priority trail sections:
- Trail clearing completed on Stages 12, 4, 1, and 2.
- Stage 1 signage upgraded as a pilot to establish consistent trail standards.
- Waymarkers and directional signs were repainted.
- The first Hiker’s Toilet at Stage 7 is complete.
6. Safety Enhancements & Emergency Response
- TPTO shared an initial emergency response model with the Disaster Management Centre for review and coordination.
- Work is underway to establish CCTV based trailhead monitoring, with Stage 15 (Ella) identified for the first pilot installation.
7. Community, Capacity Building & Gender Inclusion
- Development of the TPTO Certified Level 1 Host curriculum is in progress, supporting women and men in rural communities to serve as trained hosts.
- Steppes Travel Female Host Program (Phase 2 – training 1) was successfully completed, second and final training session will take place in December.
- Zero Plastics Movement collaboration is advancing for a stage wise waste management initiative.
8. Media, Visibility & International Recognition
- TPTO hosted GEO Magazine’s writer at Norwood, covering Stages 7 and 8, to highlight community hosts and TPTO’s tourism impact model.
- TPTO participated in an UWU panel discussion on sustainable and regenerative tourism.
- WTM training and DMC awareness sessions were conducted to build industry readiness and deepen product understanding.
9. Facilities & Community Projects
- Preschool building development inspection was completed by the Executive Director, marking substantial progress in TPTO led community infrastructure support along the trail.
10. New Partnerships
- TPTO signed a MoU with Frella to introduce a co-branded wellness product range for hikers, including the much anticipated natural leech repellent. This collaboration strengthens community market linkages while enhancing the hiking experience.
Looking Ahead
With strengthened government alignment, expanded revenue streams, new conservation partnerships, and growing international visibility, The Pekoe Trail is well positioned to become one of Asia’s leading sustainable adventure travel experiences.
TPTO extends its gratitude to all partners, agencies, communities, and hikers who continue to support this national tourism asset.
