RESEARCH ARTICLE

IDENTIFICATION OF THE POTENTIALITY AND SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF TOURISM IN MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK USING GIS TECHNIQUES.

Abstract

World tourism industry is an industry which is flourishing throughout the world. Within the world economy, eco tourism has taken a unique place. In Sri Lanka, Minneriya National Park is an area which offers a great support to develop the eco tourism industry. It’s potentiality for tourism and social economic impacts for villagers due to tourism industry are mainly analyzed through this study. As the sample, 50 questionnaires were given to randomly selected villagers in two nearby GN divisions to analyze the impact of tourism industry while another 50 for tourists to analyze their satisfaction on the facilities provide by the park. All the collected data was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed by using Chi Squire Technique, SWOT Analysis, Network Analysis and Weighted overlay techniques.

Weighted overlay technique in GIS is used to identify the areas with potential for eco tourism industry. According to that, the study identified the eastern part of the park, where Minneriya tank is located has the highest potentiality for tourism activities than the other areas. Network Analysis is used to introduce effective and easiest routes for the tourists from the park entrance to the places with relevant to their requirements. By analyzing the data collected from villages, the study has revealed that the tourism industry uplifted the living standard of villagers while conserving the natural environment. Spreading of drugs among the teenagers has identified as the main social problem in the area. Through the analysis of the data which collected from the tourists, it also founded the satisfaction of tourists on facilities providing by the park for watch elephants, birds, for jeep safaris and tourist guidance also at a good level. Absence of accommodations for the tourists inside the park, lack of government support for the development of tourism industry and the illegal fishery activities by villages in Minneriya tank has identified as the main problems inside the park.

Keywords: Eco tourism, Potentiality, Satisfaction, GIS

How to Cite: Wijerathne,K.B.P.C.A,Senevirathna,E.M.T.K, (2016). IDENTIFICATION OF THE POTENTIALITY AND SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF TOURISM IN MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK USING GIS TECHNIQUES..WILDLANKA, 4(2):Pages 042-050

Published On:2016-06-30

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