Browsing by Author "Samarathunga, W.H.M.S."

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Demonstration Effect in Sri Lankan Tourist Destination
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Samarathunga, W.H.M.S.; Pathirana, H.P.A.S.
Tourism is growing at a double digit rate in Sri Lanka and is deemed economically beneficial with increased foreign currency earnings, employment generation and foreign direct investments. However, according to academic critics, the benefits of Sri Lanka tourism are severely vitiated by the socioeconomic dysfunctions associated with the tourism demonstration effect. This notion, however, lacks empirical validation. Thus the main objective of this study is to identify and evaluate the demonstration effect in selected tourism destinations in Sri Lanka. The tourist destinations were selected according to the Butler’s tourist area life cycle model. Observations, interviews and desk research have been the main data collection tools and the findings were analyzed using N-Vivo software for qualitative studies. The demonstration effect in this study is evaluated in terms of eating and drinking habits, clothing and costumes, language usage, attending to religious activities and social events, changes in the family structure, values, believes and attitudes. The findings of this study highlight that most popular tourist destination with high tourist arrivals exhibit a greater demonstration effect while the developing destinations with a relatively lesser number of tourist arrivals are slightly affected by the demonstration effect. In contrast, the most significant finding of this study is, although tourism is a very influential sector to the changes of host population and communities, there are some other encompassing influences associated with present societal modernization. Thus, it is recommended to view tourism’s demonstration, effects with caution and to conduct further researches more carefully to measure demonstration and help unravel tourism’s impact from non-tourism influences.
Elephant Back Safari Tourism in Sri Lanka: A Critique
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Samarathunga, W.H.M.S.
Elephant tourism in Sri Lanka dates back to the British period where the British rulers used to hunt down elephants as a sport (gaming tourism). Also, in ancient Sri Lanka, elephants were kept in captivity for centuries for domestic purposes including transportation and religious activities. Tourism has become a key contributor to the modern development of Sri Lanka. Thus, the authorities are looking at alternative modes in promoting Sri Lanka tourism to maximize economic returns. Elephant Back Safari (EBS) tourism is one of the popular tourist activities in Sri Lanka which has a significant demand among tourists. The problem central to this study revolves around this scenario. This paper examines the case of EBS tourism in both Pinnawala and Habarana tourist destinations. Observations, interviews and discussions were the primary data collection tools for this study. Descriptive writings were used to analyze the findings. Whilst tourists have mixed feelings about EBS tourism in general, they do not mind having a ride on the largest animal on the land. For many tourists an elephant ride is a "must to do" when they visit Asia. Although EBS has been regularized in Sri Lanka most of the operators do not fully adhere to the conditions. For example, the number of passengers often exceed the permitted number, the elephant sheds are not well kept and elephants who are not fit for the task are used in EBS. Also, the ways elephants are trained, fed and looked after, qualifications of the mahouts, lack of trained elephants and lack of information available are cause for great debate and concern in promoting EBS in Sri Lanka. However, the increasing international tourists’ demand for EBS keep this industry ever growing. Consequently, anthropologists, economists, environmentalists, and sociologists must develop a better framework to develop Sri Lankan EBS sector in a sustainable manner.
Promoting Spiritual Tourism in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Samarathunga, W.H.M.S.
Tourism in Sri Lanka is growing at a double digit rate since the end of three decades of terrorist activities. The country is investigating and trying on new product development including Casino tourism to attract more tourists that encompasses unimaginable socio-cultural, economic and environmental negative effects. The success of any tourist destination depend on how well they have identified the motives of tourists and how well tourists’ needs and wants are looked after by that destination. Tourists even look the same, but they have different motives of how to experience their vacations and the destinations they visit. Some come to the tourist destination for relaxation, others come for pleasure, and some come to experience spirituality. Religion and spirituality are still among the most common motivations for travel (Dallen, 2006 and Gallagher, 2009). However, the true potential to develop Sri Lankan tourism sustainably through spiritual tourism has got little or no attention of the respective authorities and the tourism service providers in Sri Lanka. Thus, this research aims to: a) Disclose the potential of developing Sri Lankan tourism through spiritual tourism; b) To forecast the challenges in doing so; c) To make suitable recommendations to promote spiritual tourism in Sri Lanka. The researcher used explorative research methods in collecting data to achieve the aforementioned objectives. Interviews, personal observations, and distribution of questionnaires were the main research techniques utilized. Twelve numbers of spiritual leaders managing Buddhist temples, Hindu temples and yoga and meditation centres were interviewed and thirty five (35) numbers of spiritual tourists participated in this research. The research was carried out in Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala districts. The findings of this research indicate that there is a huge potential to develop spiritual tourism in Sri Lanka through Buddhist and Hindu monuments and practices. However, the country needs aggressive marketing campaigns to attract the right clientele while developing the spiritual tourism as a product. The research passes recommendations to the relevant authorities, travel agents, spiritual tourism service providers in developing and marketing of the spiritual tourism product of Sri Lanka.