Stakeholders’ Opinion on Geotourism Characteristics of Hummanaya Destination, Sri Lanka
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36777/jag2024.3.2.4Keywords:
Geotourism, Opinion, Principles , StakeholderAbstract
Geotourism is a niche market that contributes to sustaining and enhancing the geographical characteristics of a territory, including the abiotic, biotic, and cultural (ABC) attributes of destinations. It can improve the living standards of local communities while providing opportunities for visitors to understand and appreciate the natural environment and existing culture of geosites. The aim of this research was to evaluate the geotourism characteristics of the Hummanaya tourism destination based on stakeholders’ opinions and to investigate the extent to which stakeholders are committed to adhering to geotourism principles. Primary and secondary data sources were used to collect the necessary information for this study. Primary data were collected through key informant interviews and participatory observations conducted in the field using a semi-structured questionnaire, with purposive sampling employed. Unpublished documents were used as secondary data sources. Descriptive statistical analysis and narrative interpretation were used to analyse the collected data. The study identified the extent to which geotourism stakeholders adhere to geotourism principles. Specifically, the informants provided positive responses regarding the principles of integrity, community involvement, community benefits, and tourist satisfaction. The findings reveal that tourists perceive the destination as a fascinating and unique tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. Most tourists reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the attractions, facilities, and services provided by local facilitators, indicating that the destination meets their expectations. However, an important concern is whether other stakeholders are satisfied with the contribution of geotourism to protecting the destination’s ABC attributes and improving the socioeconomic status of local communities. Negative responses were observed regarding principles such as evolution, market selectivity, interactive interpretation, and market diversity. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to conserve and further develop the destination as a geosite and geotourism destination.
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