Exploring Perceived Impact of Tourism on Regional Development in Southern Sri Lanka

Abstract

Tourism is emerging as promising phenomena for countries in solving critical economic problems. By tourism, Sri Lanka too can keep trust on sustainable development. Especially to the rural coast line natives can improve their lives through tourism. Scholars define that rural tourism as an activity that includes farm tourism and agro-tourism, campsites, lodges, safari drives, craft markets, cultural displays, adventure sports, walking trails, heritage sites, musical events and any other tourist activity taking place in a rural area. But tourism generates positive and negative impact on the natives and culture. Main research problem of this study is “What are the existing situation of socio economic impact on Southern coastline tourism”. More over the study explore the perceived impact of tourism on southern community in Sri Lanka by taking 100 sample units of Southern coastal line covering Weligama,Matara and Devinuwara. For understanding phenomena of interests researcher used descriptive analytical technique and stratified random sampling technique. Data collecting instrument was selfadministered questionnaire and quantitative analytical technique employed. The findings of this study clearly show that the locals of these coastal areas are supportive to tourism and that negative socio-cultural impacts on the local community have been relatively minimal. But it is important to control and reduce the negative impacts and to enhance the well-being of locals through tourism.