Examination of the potentiality of eco-tourism in the area of Kiralakelle wetland.

Abstract

Kiralakelle wetland that covers about 750 ha among eleven Grama Niladari divisions in the Matara district can be recognized as an area with pronounced bio diversity. The objective of this research was the identification of potential ecotourism in the area. This is also important to recognize the possible impacts that would be caused on the life of the inhabitants and on the natural environment when it is exposed to ecotourism. Investigating the possible solutions and recognizing the ways that would be applied to minimize the previously mentioned impacts were under research objectives too. To find out the potential of ecotourism in the area, use of quadrats, field excursions, and data collected via questionnaires and interviews were employed. According to the information gathered during the research, it concluded that there was a medium scale potential to expose the area for ecotourism. Some efforts have already been employed to improve the ecotourism on a way that develops the conservation and minimize the impacts on the natural environment of the area by number of institutions. But however due to the distance among linear institutions, officious intermeddling of hotel field and due to the malfunction of the authorized officers, it has been prevented all of those efforts from success. In addition, development processes that arise time to time in the sake of ecotourism have negatively affected on the resources of the area other than developing it. In accordance with all the factors mentioned, by neglecting the harmful impacts of non organized ecotourism efforts, the ways that could be employed to enhance the quality of the lives of the community and the ways that could be used to employ this area in ecotourism on a well planned management process with the participation of the community of the area was investigated under this research.