POTENTIAL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL TOURISM TO REDUCE STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE: A CASE STUDY IN KOGGALA, GALLE DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Abstract

Tourism has become an important sector in the Sri Lankan economy. In order to find out the potential of entrepreneurial tourism to reduce structural violence this study employed the grounded theory forits methodology. Based on the information gathered in Koggala and a few other islands in Koggala Lake in Galle District, several core categories have emergedin this study. Mass tourism practices, community based activities and tourism related enterprises were the main focuses of the research during the field work. Amongst the main findings of the study was the inability for local villages in the area to access markets and provide sightseeing services to tourists, with the lack of transport facilities making this more difficult. In addition, due to the lack of economic prospects in the area and given the existence of structural violence, villagers have often left their homes in search of jobs in the Free Trade Zone or other areas. According to the core categories; structural violence in mass tourism, tourism as a peace promoter, alternative development strategies for tourism and related SME development, suggestions are provided for the development of entrepreneurial tourism with a focus on reducing structural violence.