Enhancing Sri Lanka’s Competitiveness in Diving Tourism: Bridging Development Gaps Through Stakeholder Strategies.

Abstract

Sri Lanka's diving tourism sector holds significant potential to enhance its global competitiveness, yet it faces critical development gaps that hinder its growth. This study explores stakeholder-driven strategies to address these challenges by adopting a qualitative research approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 key industry stakeholders involved in diving tourism activities in Sri Lanka. The findings reveal that limited infrastructure, inadequate funding, lack of stakeholder collaboration, and insufficient environmental education are significant barriers to industry expansion. Moreover, the study identifies a gap in research focusing on stakeholder-driven strategies to position Sri Lanka as a premier diving tourism destination. By integrating diverse stakeholder perspectives, this research provides context-specific recommendations to enhance tourist experiences, promote sustainable practices, and drive long-term industry growth. The study's novelty lies in its stakeholder-centric approach, offering actionable insights contributing to the sustainable development of Sri Lanka’s diving tourism sector.