Abstract:
Sustainable development plan should be prepare for the benefit of
present and future generation to balance short term profit requirements and long term
strategy for environmental protection. Sustainable tourism is very important for a
country like Sri-Lanka to balance protecting the environment, maintaining cultural
integrity and promoting economic benefits as, the tourism industry becomes significant
contribution to GDP (Gross Domestic production) of Sri-Lanka. Sri-Lanka is the one of
the top ranked and the beautiful island in the world for visitation by potential tourists. It
will help to attract more and more tourist that enable to develop tourism industries and
investment in tourism Sri-Lanka. It predicted that this industry is capable of bringing in
over billion dollars annually like other major income earning sources such as tea,
garments and foreign remittance of those living abroad. In this way it is to be
considered for priority to attract the tourist attention to bolster its commitment to
sustainable tourism development. The "development of tourism" and its "sustainability"
are the two different concepts to be considered at the for the benefit of the
country. General understanding of tourism industry in Sri-Lanka, specially its
development and sustainability in North and East provinces that are newly integrated
potential area after the eradication of terrorism wholly from the country.
This paper focuses in to possibility for the development of tourism industries
in North and East provinces. The outcomes views of current experts in this industry
were considered with literature review on the development and sustainability of
tourism. This paper then analyses the views of experts and the theories relevant to
tourism and its applicability to North and East for sustainable development of tourism
industry. This paper discuss socio, economic and environmental pillar of sustainable
tourism by the stakeholders and reviewing expecting future competitions form the other
part of the country and the world. In the recent years not much research has been carried
out on the topic of tourism after the terrorism specially to the North and East provinces.
Therefore this paper will be useful to a range of tourism stakeholders in the province as
well as Sri-Lanka, readers involved in the regional tourism development in other part of
the world. The academic researcher who has focused on sustainable tourism for long
period, a leading consulting firm, an applied researcher makes this paper interesting.
