Dynamic Stakeholder Collaboration for Responsible Tourism 576 Development: Insights from Sri Lanka's Tourism Governance

Abstract

The achievement of responsible destination management is widely acknowledged on the effectiveness of governance mechanisms while accompanied by a shift in the field of tourism planning and development towards prioritizing sustainability. This study employs content analysis to analyze data collected from interviews, aiming to understand the perspectives of diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, tour operators, service providers, community residents, and other tourism stakeholders. The findings reveal that stakeholders have diverse interests and concerns, including economic benefits, environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and community well-being. Building on these findings, the researcher proposes a multi-stakeholder analysis model that emphasizes collaboration and the establishment of roles to govern sustainable destinations effectively. The model, depicted as a dynamic wheel of stakeholders, illustrates how each stakeholder group can contribute to promoting responsible tourism. This research contributes to the literature by providing insights into stakeholder dynamics and offering a practical framework for stakeholders to engage in responsible tourism development in Sri Lanka.