Title: The vulnerable context of tourism development: evidence from Sri Lanka

Authors: M.S.M. Aslam; Khairil Wahidin Awang; Zaiton Samdin; Nor'ain Othman

Addresses: Department of Tourism Management, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, P.O. Box 02, Belihuloya, Sri Lanka ' Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: A large number of countries adapted tourism as a significant tool for development, but over utilisation of resources and negative impacts were claimed planned tourism development to ensure the sustainability. Sri Lanka also embarked on the tourism industry, beginning in the 1960s with planned tourism development. This paper intends to identify and understand the broader context of tourism development and its vulnerability with reference to Sri Lanka. This study adopted an inductive descriptive analysis methodology through informal and formal interviews and participant observation, in addition to a wide documentary analysis. Many researchers and authors verify that planned tourism development determines positive outcomes and attainment of desired objectives. Until 1982, Sri Lanka had recorded highly favourable growth in tourism. Since 1983 planning deficiencies, internal crises and natural disasters have curtailed the progress of planned tourism development. Conceptually, the tourism planning process provides positive outlooks of a potential tourism industry but in a broader context, political, socio-cultural, environmental and economic stability determine tourism development in a destination.

Keywords: tourism development; tourism policy; sustainable tourism; Sri Lanka; planning deficiencies; internal crises; natural disasters; sustainability; tourism planning; stability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2014.063112

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2014 Vol.5 No.3, pp.208 - 228

Received: 13 Jun 2013
Accepted: 24 Mar 2014
Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article