Tourism industry and traditional fishing industry in down south coastal belt of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Tourism industry is a rapid growing industry in the world wide due to its high economic contribution. As a result, most of the countries enter into this remarkable industry as the economic benefits it gains contribute to the development of the country. This industry directly and indirectly affects the other industries in the host country in both positive and negative manner. This study attempts to find out such interrelationships between tourism industry and fishing industry in down south coastal belt of Sri Lanka. Down south coastal belt is one of the famous tourist areas in Sri Lanka due to the water based tourist products offered by the area tourist service providers. Host communities in down south costal belt are mainly fishing communities for centuries. The development of tourism industry impacts this community and their traditional occupation. The major aim of this study was to find out how the traditional fishing industry is being effected through the tourism industry. The objectives were to identify the nature of tourism industry, different typologies of tourist attraction, traditional fishing techniques used by the fishermen in down south costal belt and interrelationship between tourism and traditional fishing industry using both primary and secondary data collection methodologies.