Visitor Expectations and Stakeholder Involvements in Eco-Tourism Sites: Reference to the Four Designated Sites in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Over the past few decades, tourism has become an outstanding source of foreign exchange in Sri Lanka. Opening up of new tourism markets in Asia made the tourism industry a highly competitive within the region. Recently, Sri Lanka has recognized the need of diversifying tourism markets and the need in developing eco-tourism sites in Sri Lanka as a strategy to attract tourists for unique ecological resources while generating income. In Sri Lanka, concept of Eco-tourism is being popularized and few sites have been identified to promote this concept. Sinharaja forest, Horton plain, Muthurajawela wetland and Retigala forest have been focused in this study to evaluate the present nature of utilization of resources to reach the green marketing perspective. A random sample of 200 visitors were interviewed at all four locations in this study during the period of three months. Beside visitors, site managers to a guides were interviewed through a questionnaire. Observations were also made to supplement the information gathered. The survey revealed that Germans and the British visitor’s accounts for the greater part of Eco-tourism market and bird watching and wild life viewing were the outstanding expectation at these sites. On the other hand, educational facilities and information provided were not up to the expectation. Locals too interested for more information and education apart from the leisure. The Sinharaja, a popular destination for nature lovers has not developed yet in a way to attract both foreigners as well as local tourists. Lodging facilities provided by the Department of Forest Conservation at Siharaja is inadequate to satisfy visitor demand for lodging. Providing opportunities to the community in the buffer zone of Sinharaja to provide food and lodging to tourists would enhance the trickledown effect of the money invested in this industry. However, efforts taken to control visitor damages and to provide tour guide services yet to be improved. Horton Plain is a location where visitors prefer to stay near the park reserve. However, inferior quality accommodation available at present has failed to retain visitors in particularly foreigners. Cafeteria service, resting facilities, toilet facilities are the most demanded needs, according to visitors. Since there is no inhabited area in the close proximity impact of the reserve as well as the impact of tourism on the community found to be negligible. Ritigala forest and archaeological reserve is another location where visitor facilities are ignored at present. Either Department of Wild Life Conservation or Department of Archaeology should take actions to provide basic needs such as drinking water, toilets and cafeteria facility by implementing a ticketing system at this site. Concept of eco-lodges for foreigners and dormitory type accommodations for locals in the buffer zone would satisfy the desires of visitors while furthering the community's involvement in sustainable development of tourism. Muthurajawela 'Marsh' found to be the only location where the concept of eco- tourism was satisfactorily adapted under the management of a voluntary organization which is interested to organize Eco-tourism activities. The level of conservation, community involvement, community benefits, stakeholder interactions, visitor facilities and provision of information are relatively developed at Muthurajawela than at other locations studied. In general, accommodation facilities existing in the buffer zones at all sites need to be improved. On the other hand, improving guiding and educational facilities need to receive greater attention of the officer in-chargers. The most crucial determinant of the future of all these sites is the strong links between key stakeholders and need to be improved. Even though concept is to draw the tourism benefits to the nearby community, except at the Muthurajawela wetland others are not in par with the principal objective of the concept.