Way Forward for Tourism: Delighting Customers, Improve Possibilities and Service Innovations - A Case Study in Badulla Region, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka is one of the most wonderful tourist destinations in world, naturally heritage tourist attractions from hundreds of years. Tourism is an emerging sector after end of the civil war. Badulla, a region surrounded by huge collection of natural resources and bio-diversity, but not attracted as a tourist destination with vast collection of tourism potentialities. The places related to ancient Rama-Ravana legend having a huge potentiality to attract Indian tourists also existed. Study aims to explore the possibilities to develop tourism. Sample size was 60, simple random sampling, both questionnaires and interviews were used. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric analysis ( Kruskal-Wallis test) was used. Accordingly develop the knowledge-base and infrastructure can be highlighted. Porter?s Diamond model has developed to analyze weaknesses in micro-economic environment in region. As conclusion, tourism is an emerging sector having huge potentiality to develop in post-conflict situation. According to Diamond model, increase the competitiveness of the regional tourists firms, service innovations, supportive industry development and most importantly clear strategy focused tourism plan and execution can be highlighted as recommendations.