Search results

Wars destroy the tourism cities by causing damages to their cultural and natural attractions. However, the post-war cities have great upward potentials to develop through careful and integrated tourism planning. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to identify the perspectives of local stakeholders on tourism development in a post-war city.

The study used qualitative methods in collecting and analysing the data while closely referring to pertinent literature. Interviews, observations and focus-group discussions have been the main data collection tools and content analysis was performed with NVivo (v.12) to analyse the data.

Analysis of interviews, focus group discussion findings and observations highlighted the availability of a plethora of tourism potentials within post-war Jaffna that include, both cultural and natural attractions: Hindu Kovils and Buddhist temples, colonial heritage, traditional cuisines and way of life, beaches, flora and fauna and sceneries. The study further identified a lack of professionals, absence of a master plan, remoteness, poor infrastructure and absence of tourist activities as main obstacles for tourism development in Jaffna. Finally, implications are forwarded based on stakeholders’ perspectives to promote post-war city tourism in Jaffna.

Wars are not common, and post-war tourism cities are rare. The present study is focused on a destination where the war has ended, causing much damages to the destination. The study evaluates the tourism potentials and challenges based on stakeholders’ perspectives and forwards implications for city tourism development despite post-war empirical glitches, which have rarely been addressed in the tourism literature.

This paper aims to provide a practical framework to develop a clear positioning strategy for tourism in post-war Sri Lanka.

This paper is written in the context of a strategic question: “how might post-war Sri Lanka develop inbound tourism?” “Positioning” is defined as a pivotal concept in marketing and five key steps in developing the positioning strategy are described. The manner in which the five steps were taken in developing a new positioning strategy for Sri Lanka Tourism is analysed.

A clear positioning strategy for tourism in post-war Sri Lanka should provide a strong foundation to change the negative perceptions potential tourist may have of Sri Lanka. Authors find that the previous positioning statement: “Land like no other” was ineffective, as it lacked coherence, credibility and appeal. The key finding in this paper is that the new positioning statement of Sri Lanka Tourism: “Asia's diverse, authentic and compact island” will evoke in the minds of consumers vividly recalled words and images. While the product-related issues related to post-war tourism in Sri Lanka are being addressed, the principal problem appears to be one of communication.

Sri Lanka Tourism has, by and large accepted the concept presented in this paper.

This paper fulfils an identified need to develop tourism destination positioning and brand image on a research based and systematic manner. The paper presents an illustrative Sri Lanka Tourism brand schema.

This paper aims to analyze the current state of tourism in Sri Lanka and make practical suggestions for the future.

The paper is written in the context of a strategic question: “how might post-war Sri Lanka develop inbound tourism?” An analytical approach is taken to discuss potential growth of tourism in Sri Lanka from 2013 to 2016.

26 years of war affected tourism in Sri Lanka negatively and a dramatic turnaround came when the war ended in 2009. In 2012 most tourist generating countries indicated significant growth. In 2012 Sri Lanka passed two milestones in its tourism history by emerging as a “Million Tourist Destination” and a “Billion Dollar Export Income Earner”. However, from 1,005,605 tourists in 2012, the number who utilized tourist services and facilities is established as 725,000. Sri Lanka is now aiming to attract 2.5 million tourists by 2016. The paper debates that this target is not realistic.

To further develop tourism, Sri Lanka must develop a practical plan with realistic targets. In conclusion, the authors suggest a ten-point plan.

This paper aims to learn from the present and plan for the future. A former Marketing Director of the national tourism authority of Sri Lanka joined hands with an international hospitality and tourism educator to co-write this paper to advocate for a practical approach in forecasting realistic targets for tourism growth in Sri Lanka.

This paper aims to analyse the current state of tourism in Sri Lanka and make practical suggestions for a shared vision.

The paper is written in the context of a strategic question: “how might post-war Sri Lanka develop inbound tourism?” An analytical approach is taken to discuss the practicality of the tourist arrival target of 2.5 million tourists to Sri Lanka by 2016.

Achieving the 2.5 million tourist arrival target in 2016 is not realistic and should be revised to a more manageable two million target. Macro level changes since the end of the war in 2009 should be taken into consideration in preparing a new master plan. Assuming that continuous peace will be there for a long time, is simply not sufficient. Rebuilding the social economic foundation of the society has to be faster and must be the top agenda point for Sri Lanka. This is an essential ingredient for long lasting peace and a healthy and sustainably developed tourism industry in the future.

Addressing six key challenges and incorporating six key strategies identified in this paper should be helpful in developing a new master plan. Debating with and getting inputs from all major stakeholders of the tourism industry is recommended to ensure sustainable tourism development.

This paper provides thought-provoking practical tips from three well-experienced leaders of tourism industry, hotel industry and hospitality education.

There is a large body of literature on the link between trade liberalisation, growth and poverty. However, less attention has been paid to the relationship between trade and regional disparities. The purpose of this paper is to identify and quantify the regional impacts of trade liberalisation, particularly in the war-affected regions and to understand to what extent trade reforms can contribute to the post-war recovery process and long-term economic and political stability in Sri Lanka.

The authors developed a single country multi-regional computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for the Sri Lankan economy to meet the need for a detailed country study as emphasised in the recent literature.

Both short-run and long-run results suggest that all regions including war-affected regions in the country gain from trade liberalisation, although gains are uneven across regions. Furthermore, the results suggest that war-affected regions gain more relative to some other regions in the long run.

According to the best of the authors’ knowledge within country regional impact of trade liberalisation using a multi-regional CGE model has never been attempted for Sri Lanka. The results of this study, even though based on Sri Lankan data, will be relevant to other developing countries engulfed in internal conflicts with regional economic disparities.

This paper aims to provide a snapshot of the customer focused Environmentally-friendly Sustainable Operations (ESO) of Sri Lankan hotels in response to the global trends and post-war tourism trends in Sri Lanka.

This paper is written in the context of a strategic question: “how might post-war Sri Lanka develop inbound tourism?” The co-authors opted for an evident-based conceptual approach. The results of an airport survey with 4,500 tourists, conducted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in 2012, are analysed.

The key findings in this paper are 13 predicted trends that are likely to have a direct impact on hotels in Sri Lanka. Having analysed ESO, the authors of this paper test the Evolving Tourist Expectation Model (ETEM), developed by two of the authors. The five stages of this model are presented in the conclusion section.

This concept should be further tested. Considering that ESO is not a luxury anymore and it is now simply the norm for hotels, hoteliers in Sri Lanka as well as around the world should benefit from this paper.

This paper fulfils an identified need to debate concepts that are relevant and important to emerging destinations such as Sri Lanka. An analysis of a European Union funded “Greening Sri Lankan hotels” programme and a case study from John Keells Holdings – the largest hotel company in Sri Lanka – strengthen the paper.

This paper aims to present practical answers to the strategic question: “How might post-war Sri Lanka develop inbound tourism?” It attempts to capture the essence of contributions by 12 experts on aspects on tourism of Sri Lanka, for the Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) issue on Sri Lanka in 2013.

Having analyzed the key findings and recommendations made in eight preceding papers on the same theme issue, the author integrates innovative suggestions in order to provide a succinct response to the strategic question.

While providing an overview of the key trends and challenges of tourism in post-war Sri Lanka, this paper proposes innovative solutions to those challenges. At the end of the paper 11 final concluding suggestions which have incorporated 71 suggestions from other sections of this paper are made to all policy makers and stakeholders of tourism industry of Sri Lanka. Based on relevant discussions, conclusions, suggested innovative solutions and assumptions, the paper provides a helicopter view of the potential for future tourism development in Sri Lanka up to the year 2026.

This paper provides fresh perspectives on many relevant issues by analyzing inputs, viewpoints, comments, and suggestions from subject experts. These inputs make this paper valuable to the readers. Industry professionals, consultants, researchers, academics and students with interests in tourism in Sri Lanka or similar tourism destinations around the world would benefit from this paper.

This paper aims to provide a backdrop for the Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) theme issue on tourism in Sri Lanka.

This paper is written in the context of a strategic question: “how might post-war Sri Lanka develop inbound tourism?” A narrative approach is taken to cover a period of 46 years.

26 years of war affected tourism in Sri Lanka resulting in low demand, low prices and a reputation as a cheap destination. Turnaround came when the war ended in 2009. In 2012 Sri Lanka passed two milestones in its tourism history by emerging as a “million tourist destination” and a “billion dollar export income earner”. Sri Lanka is now aiming to attract 2.5 million tourists by 2016.

Tourism in Sri Lanka has the potential to emerge as a major export income earner. To further develop tourism, Sri Lanka must develop a long-term tourism master plan with inputs from all stake holders. Authors suggest that such a master plan is needed to achieve a target of 4.5 million tourist arrivals by 2024.

This paper learns from the past and plans for the future. A former Chairman and a former Director of the national tourism authority of Sri Lanka joined hands with an international hospitality and tourism educator to co-write this paper to advocate for a holistic plan in further development of tourism in Sri Lanka.

This paper aims to document the views of a Sri Lankan hotelier/tourism educator on the essential ingredients needed to ensure the future success of tourism in Sri Lanka.

The paper is based on an interview covering eight questions in the context of a strategic overall question: “how might post-war Sri Lanka develop inbound tourism?”

Sri Lanka celebrates two milestones in 2012 – reaching one million tourists and US$ one billion annual income level from tourism. However, it is evident that the key to the future success of tourism in Sri Lanka is simply a “balancing act”. Various important aspects and initiatives should be carefully and strategically balanced now and in the long run so as to ensure that future tourism targets can be attained in a sustainable manner. In conclusion, 12 suggestions are made to reflect where balancing is most needed.

Tourism in Sri Lanka has the potential to emerge as a major export income earner. To further develop tourism, Sri Lanka must balance identified and important aspects and then find innovative and practical solutions.

An international hospitality and tourism educator and a Sri Lankan journalist collaborate in writing this question and answer style paper. The approach taken should be of interest and use to all stakeholders of tourism in Sri Lanka.

Cross-cultural differences must be taken into consideration for tourism development. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the importance of cross-cultural differences in a location which is emerging from a dark period after a prolonged war caused by ethnic differences.

While the existing tourism models deal with the impact of cross-cultural differences, it is difficult to apply them in certain situations, such as postwar Sri Lanka. The study therefore adopted an inductive, qualitative approach where information has been obtained from all stakeholders.

The conflict in Sri Lanka in the North and East has been interpreted differently by many individual stakeholder groups. This study reveals how economic development can bring communities together. The project elaborated in this study represents an investment of over US$6m. Given that the location of Jaffna was a focal point of the 26-year long civil war from 1983 to 2009, the risk of failure would have been extremely high.

The study ascertained qualitative perceptions from a cross-section of perspectives: the investor, local residents and employees. The project is shown to be a viable example of how to address socio cultural differences in the creation of a profitable venture.