This report evaluates the status of the tourism sector in Sri Lanka from perspectives of vulnerability and resilience.
Tourism in Sri Lanka flourished from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, after which civil conflict limited further growth. However, sophisticated public relations (PR) and marketing coupled with a loyal market kept the industry alive.
A brief revival after a peace agreement in 2002 was badly affected by the 2004 Asian tsunami, and renewed terrorist attacks and fighting from 2005 continued to depress visitor numbers.
The industry’s stagnation and decline has affected a wide crosssection of the population, especially because tourism’s linkages within a relatively diversified economy such as Sri Lanka’s are so pervasive.
Conclusions drawn are based on a study of Sri Lankan tourism in general backed up by reports on specific areas, and on field research at three distinct destinations: the coastal resort of Hikkaduwa on the south-west coast, the inland World Heritage Site (WHS) of Anuradhapura in the north, and the pilgrimage site of Katharagama, in the south-east.
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