Community perception on tourism development in Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Kalpitiya, an area in Sri Lanka characterized by breathtaking natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, has recently seen a surge in efforts to develop tourism. The perceptions, expectations, and engagement with tourism activities of the local community play a pivotal role in shaping the sustainable future of tourism in a region. However, the grassroots level perception has not been fully explored yet. Therefore, the objective of the study was to assess how the community perceives tourism development activities in the region by identifying the socio-economic and environmental impacts of tourism development. The sample size was 100 local people randomly selected from 05 GN divisions, i.e. 20 per each out of 31 GN divisions of Kalpitiya district where many tourism development activities are going on. A field survey was conducted using a pretested structured questionnaire for the data collection. Community perception and awareness on tourism activities were used as main variables measured using five point Likert scale ranging from 1= not beneficial at all, 5= very beneficial and 1= not aware at all and 5= highly aware respectively. The statistical analysis of the collected data indicated that 69% of the community is aware of the tourism development activities taking place in Kalpitiya, with a mean score of 3.67 and a low standard deviation of 0.0853. However, the positive perception of tourism activities among the respondents is low with a mean score of 1.75 and a relatively high standard deviation of 0.902, suggesting that though the community is aware of the tourism development activities, they may not necessarily perceive them as beneficial. The respondents mentioned the most important benefits of tourism for them are improved revenue generation of local businesses, new employment, new residential places, and skill development opportunities with statistically significant means of 4.04, 3.97, 3.93, and 3.89 respectively. Increased solid waste and environmental pollution were stated as significant environmental impacts caused by the tourism industry as per the community's perception. Therefore, the study suggests implementing natural resources protection programs, solid waste and environment management programs in the area to reduce the negative impacts on the community and the environment. Additionally, the community proposed promoting the supply of direct and indirect goods and services to tourists by locals, developing policies and plans for tourism-based business development, and encouraging tourism-related employment opportunities for youth. These measures aim to enhance the socio-economic and environmental status through sustained tourism development in the area.