The unique partnership of the Tourism Cluster was formed in April 2000 under the USAID Competitiveness Initiative with members representing the association at the centre of
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry - the Tourism Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators - the public sector Sri Lanka Tourist Board, and Sri Lankan Airlines, the national carrier.

In August 2003, with support of an international ecotourism expert, local biodiversity experts and other specialists from USAID’s Competitiveness Initiative, the project feasibility was completed and presented to the industry of investment. A number of companies subscribed to the offering and the Rainforest Ecolodge Company was set up to implement the project.