Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka
Prior to COVID-19 heavy tourist pressure was causing environmental degradation and wildlife disturbance in Sri Lankan protected areas. The pandemic abruptly stopped visitation causing devastating impacts on the entire nature-based tourism sector. At the same time, the pandemic opened a window of opp...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2577444123000266 |
| _version_ | 1827918533926846464 |
|---|---|
| author | Priyan Perera Charitha Jayakody Udeshika Jayapali David Newsome |
| author_facet | Priyan Perera Charitha Jayakody Udeshika Jayapali David Newsome |
| author_sort | Priyan Perera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prior to COVID-19 heavy tourist pressure was causing environmental degradation and wildlife disturbance in Sri Lankan protected areas. The pandemic abruptly stopped visitation causing devastating impacts on the entire nature-based tourism sector. At the same time, the pandemic opened a window of opportunity to rethink the way the nature-based tourism is practiced in Sri Lanka's protected areas and bring it to the “sustainable track”. In this paper, we present a “position statement” to aid planning for sustainable and resilient nature-based tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka by validating and employing previous work on sustainable nature-based tourism planning, and information gathered through field observations and semi-structured interviews of nature-based tourism stakeholders in Sri Lanka. Future planning will require reflection and research with the aim of developing a more responsible and ethical approach to tourism activity and the viewing of wildlife. As the present economic and energy crisis is likely to prolong social and environmental difficulties, planning for a resilient nature-based tourism industry and appropriate community engagement is a priority. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:43:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9dabc0c6b6941b9abe25a960d89b6f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2577-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:43:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9dabc0c6b6941b9abe25a960d89b6f32023-06-23T04:43:48ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks2577-44412023-06-01112234246Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri LankaPriyan Perera0Charitha Jayakody1Udeshika Jayapali2David Newsome3Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 10250, Sri Lanka; College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth 6150, WA, AustraliaDepartment of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 10250, Sri LankaDepartment of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 10250, Sri LankaCollege of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth 6150, WA, Australia; Corresponding author.Prior to COVID-19 heavy tourist pressure was causing environmental degradation and wildlife disturbance in Sri Lankan protected areas. The pandemic abruptly stopped visitation causing devastating impacts on the entire nature-based tourism sector. At the same time, the pandemic opened a window of opportunity to rethink the way the nature-based tourism is practiced in Sri Lanka's protected areas and bring it to the “sustainable track”. In this paper, we present a “position statement” to aid planning for sustainable and resilient nature-based tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka by validating and employing previous work on sustainable nature-based tourism planning, and information gathered through field observations and semi-structured interviews of nature-based tourism stakeholders in Sri Lanka. Future planning will require reflection and research with the aim of developing a more responsible and ethical approach to tourism activity and the viewing of wildlife. As the present economic and energy crisis is likely to prolong social and environmental difficulties, planning for a resilient nature-based tourism industry and appropriate community engagement is a priority.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2577444123000266nature-based tourismnegative impactsSri LankaCOVID-19tourism planningover-tourism |
| spellingShingle | Priyan Perera Charitha Jayakody Udeshika Jayapali David Newsome Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks nature-based tourism negative impacts Sri Lanka COVID-19 tourism planning over-tourism |
| title | Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post pandemic sri lanka |
| topic | nature-based tourism negative impacts Sri Lanka COVID-19 tourism planning over-tourism |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2577444123000266 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT priyanperera challengesandopportunitiesfortheresumptionofnaturetourisminpostpandemicsrilanka AT charithajayakody challengesandopportunitiesfortheresumptionofnaturetourisminpostpandemicsrilanka AT udeshikajayapali challengesandopportunitiesfortheresumptionofnaturetourisminpostpandemicsrilanka AT davidnewsome challengesandopportunitiesfortheresumptionofnaturetourisminpostpandemicsrilanka |