Socio-environment impact of coastal tourism: a case of Pasikudah in East coast of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Coastal tourism development and management is a massive complex phenomenon which throw threatening towards marine life, habitat conservation and social stability. Sri Lanka is a wealthy country which has many natural resources. Natural beauty is the major influence of its economy. Though the nation is facing social related issues along with the less per capita, it manages to improve its fundamental facilities, basic needs and well-being of the people. This paper mainly considers tourism as one of the major economic sectors in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has the capability to satisfy the needs of travelers with its natural beauty. Though there are numerous destinations for the tourism, this study focused on Pasikudah tourist place in Batticaloa. Even though the tourism of the study area is giving lots of benefits to the individuals, there are diverse impacts on environment and social well-being. Therefore, by using primary and secondary data this study involved in identifying the core issues and challenges of tourism in Pasikudah and the surrounded settlement areas. Primary data was used to identify the negative and positive impacts whilst the secondary data used to identify the parallel situation of tourism and integration of tourist places. Eventually the study concluded with the overall analysis of data. Positive impacts influenced by the native folks for their economy and negative impacts were identified in the environment degradation and land use. Migration, mangrove and coral reefs destruction occurring gradually in the Pasikudah region. There is a drastic increase in the arrival of tourist in Pasikudah area from 2009 after the civil war. Hence the sustainable tourism in Pasikudah is still a chance to be executed. Changing the tourism industry through the eco-tourism in the tourism industry in Pasikudah region will be the best solution.