Assessing the Economic Impact of Arugambay, Sri Lanka Tourism Development: A Case Study of Livelihood Enhancement Strategies for Local Communities
Abeyratne, Dilrukshi (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051913401
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051913401
Tiivistelmä
This thesis explores the economic impacts of tourism development on local communities in Arugambay, examining both the benefits and challenges experienced by residents. The research investigates key issues such as revenue generation, employment stability, environmental sustainability, and cultural dynamics, while also providing recommendations for fostering sustainable tourism practices.
Primarily, the study highlights the duality of tourism's economic influence, emphasizing significant benefits such as revenue generation and job creation, while also addressing challenges like economic dependency, seasonal instability, and environmental degradation. The study draws on a theoretical framework rooted in sustainable tourism and livelihood enhancement strategies to contextualize the findings.
The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including local residents, business owners, and tourism officials. This method provides in-depth insights into stakeholder perspectives and findings are corroborated through a literature review to enhance reliability and validity.
The research identifies that economic impacts of tourism development in Arugambay are mixed, with significant benefits and challenges for local communities. Tourism contributes greatly to revenue generation, job creation, and skill development, improving infrastructure and fostering cultural exchange. However, it also leads to economic challenges such as price inflation, seasonal employment instability, environmental degradation, and cultural erosion. To maximize positive outcomes, stakeholders recommend strategies like community training programs, infrastructure development, collaboration, economic diversification, and sustainable practices. These measures aim to enhance local livelihoods, reduce dependency on tourism, and promote long-term sustainability.
Key suggestions focus on enhancing infrastructure, fostering collaboration, promoting sustainable jobs, safeguarding culture, conserving the environment, and supporting local training and economic diversification.
In summary, this thesis contributes to the broader literature on tourism development by offering practical insights and recommendations to promote equitable and sustainable outcomes for local communities in Arugambay.
Primarily, the study highlights the duality of tourism's economic influence, emphasizing significant benefits such as revenue generation and job creation, while also addressing challenges like economic dependency, seasonal instability, and environmental degradation. The study draws on a theoretical framework rooted in sustainable tourism and livelihood enhancement strategies to contextualize the findings.
The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including local residents, business owners, and tourism officials. This method provides in-depth insights into stakeholder perspectives and findings are corroborated through a literature review to enhance reliability and validity.
The research identifies that economic impacts of tourism development in Arugambay are mixed, with significant benefits and challenges for local communities. Tourism contributes greatly to revenue generation, job creation, and skill development, improving infrastructure and fostering cultural exchange. However, it also leads to economic challenges such as price inflation, seasonal employment instability, environmental degradation, and cultural erosion. To maximize positive outcomes, stakeholders recommend strategies like community training programs, infrastructure development, collaboration, economic diversification, and sustainable practices. These measures aim to enhance local livelihoods, reduce dependency on tourism, and promote long-term sustainability.
Key suggestions focus on enhancing infrastructure, fostering collaboration, promoting sustainable jobs, safeguarding culture, conserving the environment, and supporting local training and economic diversification.
In summary, this thesis contributes to the broader literature on tourism development by offering practical insights and recommendations to promote equitable and sustainable outcomes for local communities in Arugambay.