Abstract:
Geographical area of Sri Lanka, with its intact natural beauty, important culture, and historical monuments, has significant potential for tourism development. The study investigated the Heeloya Knuckles Valley Tourism village in Sri Lanka as the research area which conducts tourism activities on a regular basis as one of their main livelihoods. The objective of this study was exploring the stakeholder‟s perspective on tourism development and its implications. The sample was selected using purposive sampling method, and the sample size consists of 12 tourism stakeholders. The study adapted the qualitative research approach, and data were gathered using interviews conducted through telephone conversations. The study used thematic analysis method. The analysis revealed that tourism has generated positive economic and socio-cultural impact such as revenue generation, women‟s employment, economic growth, and social empowerment. The finding of this research showed that the stakeholders held a favorable image towards tourism development and that there is a need for a proper mechanism to promote tourism in those places. There is a great potential to develop sustainable tourism concepts as an instrument of multidimensional poverty in rural areas.
