Sri Lanka is a beautiful island nation with a rich cultural and natural heritage. It attracts millions of tourists every year who come to enjoy its beaches, wildlife, temples, and cuisine. However, tourism also poses many challenges for the country, such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and cultural erosion. How can Sri Lanka promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development that benefits both the visitors and the local communities?
One possible way is to adopt the concept of community-based tourism (CBT), which involves the active participation of local people in planning, managing, and benefiting from tourism activities. CBT empowers the local communities to preserve their culture and environment, while also generating income and improving their quality of life. CBT also enhances the tourist experience by offering authentic and meaningful interactions with the locals, as well as opportunities to learn about and contribute to their culture and environment.
Another possible way is to implement the principles of ecotourism, which aim to minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the natural environment and promote its conservation. Ecotourism encourages tourists to respect and appreciate the biodiversity and ecosystems of Sri Lanka, and to support the efforts of conservation organizations and local communities. Ecotourism also promotes responsible travel practices, such as reducing waste, saving water and energy, and avoiding activities that harm wildlife or habitats.
By promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism development, Sri Lanka can achieve a balance between economic growth and social and environmental well-being. It can also showcase its unique and diverse attractions to the world, while preserving its identity and values.
Research Blog on “How can Sri Lanka promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development?” © 2023 by Amaresh Rajaratnam is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
