The report, ‘Dark Clouds over the Sunshine Paradise’ published by Society for Threatened Peoples claims that large-scale tourism developments have had harmful effects on local communities, including cases of fishermen losing their access to the sea and allegations of land grabbing by the military.  It urges travel agents to be vigilant about human rights issues.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the following resorts to respond: Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Maalu Maalu Resorts, Dutch Bay Resorts, Anilana Resorts, Jungle Beach Resorts, Sun Aqua Passikudah.  We also invited the following travel agencies to respond: Kuoni Group, Tui Group, Hotelplan Suisse, DER Touristik, Studiosus, Thomas Cook & Tour Asia. 

Responses provided by DER Touristik, Kuoni, Hotelplan Suisse, Studiosus and Tui Group are below.  We are continuing to follow up with others and will provide further updates as they become available.