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Tourism Development Of Sri Lanka

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Tourism sector is one of the major contributors for the Sri Lankan Economy. Since independence, the tourism industry has grown steadily and contributed enormously for the economic development. Sri Lanka has earned $1.8 billion revenue from Travel & Tourism alone. Report shows that it contributed 5.5% in Gross Domestic Products during 2013 and direct employment in tourism sector is doubled within 4 years at the end of conflict (CBSL, 2014).
Thirty years armed conflict in the North East region of the country led to loss of life, displacement of persons, and destruction of infrastructure. The said situation led down the economy especially tourism was rigorously affected. The setback in tourism sector severely affected the local community who …show more content…

The end of the armed conflict does open up many doors for the tourism sector and both the government and private sector are gearing up for the revival of tourism. The cessation of armed conflicts tourist arrival suddenly increased in conflict affected regions. This has intended trickle down benefits to the poor households that rely on the sector for primary or supplementary income.

The large-scale impacts of Tourism include both positive and negative impacts on environmental, socio - cultural and economic aspects. The concept of sustainability is factored into these tourism impacts, when the size of the impacts becomes large enough to drastically alter economic, socio-cultural and environmental areas of a tourist destination. Especially the sensitive places like conflict-affected regions, these impacts need to be analyzed and evaluated carefully. Apart from obvious and visible effects on the economy and the physical environment, tourism can contribute to social and cultural changes in host societies, including changes in value systems, traditional lifestyles, family relationships, individual behavior or community structure.

Though there is enough literature on relationship between tourism and economic development, it was not covered much in conflict - affected regions, especially in the point of view of the local communities. This

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