An Analysis on Potentials of Developing Spiritual Tourism in Sri Lanka – with special reference to Buddhist Pilgrimage Activities

Abstract

Spiritual Tourism is one of the emerging forms of tourism that practice by most of the countries in the world. Each religion has unique activities; the devotees and scholars who are fond of practicing those, visits the religious sites. In this regard, the spiritual tourism has being increasing and most of the countries that have strong religious and spiritual backgrounds are promoting Spiritual Tourism. Sri Lanka as a most prominent destination for Buddhist Pilgrimage has the high potentiality for promoting Spiritual Tourism. This study attempts to analyze the potentials of developing Buddhism Based Spiritual Tourism in Sri Lanka. The study was based on data gathered by a field study. The objectives of this qualitative research were to analyze the current usage of Buddhist heritage in tourism, to find out the potentials of developing Spiritual Tourism in Sri Lanka based on Buddhism, to build up strategies for Spiritual Tourism Development in Sri Lanka. The significance of the study was to develop a form of tourism with the use of Buddhist pilgrimage potentials available in Sri Lanka.