The way forward for Tourism

Friday, 6 January 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The tourist sector in Sri Lanka is crucial to the country’s economy and has been severely impacted by the long-lasting economic unrest.

In the past, the nation relied largely on the tourism sector to generate income, but that is no longer the case because of the political and economic upheaval that is keeping visitors away. The future may, however, be saved by sustainable tourism.

Tourism that has no detrimental influence on the environment or local culture is what is meant by sustainable tourism. As people become more conscious of the need to conserve our world, this kind of travel is growing in popularity. Sri Lanka has already started implementing several strategies available to enhance sustainable tourism.

Although sustainable tourism has been around for a while, in the last ten years or so it seems to have become more urgent. The stress on natural resources is amplified by the continued increase in global population.

People are growing more and more conscious of the need to safeguard the environment. One method to satisfy both of these needs is through sustainable tourism. It enables users to take pleasure in the planet’s natural splendour while preserving access to it for coming generations. The perfect illustration of how this can work is Sri Lanka. A concerted attempt has been made to resurrect sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka.

When it comes to promoting sustainable tourism, Sri Lanka faces some difficulties. Since many visitors may not always be aware of the fundamental laws and regulations or may even be breaking them unknowingly, it may be challenging to ensure that tourists are abiding by environmental restrictions.

Additionally, there is a need to set up the necessary infrastructure, such as efficient sanitation and waste disposal, to ensure that the mass tourist that is attracted will not have a harmful influence on the environment.

In order for the populace to understand the value of sustainable tourism and cooperate to safeguard the environment, the nation must increase public knowledge of it. For sustainable tourism efforts to be successful, additional environmental projects and activities must be launched.

Additionally, Sri Lanka must reduce trash output, use less water, and protect wildlife habitats in order to ensure that its tourism sector has the least negative effects possible. Last but not least, efforts should be made to guarantee that small, locally owned businesses profit from the flood of tourists rather than huge multinational companies or foreign hotel chains.

For positions in the tourism industry, such as tour guides, hotel personnel, or restaurant employees, locals must receive training. The people of Sri Lanka will be able to benefit from the expanding tourism market and long-term employment prospects as a result.