Abstract:
Tourism may be an ally or a threat to conservation. The expansion and
diversification of eco-tourism had an increasing environmental impact on
naturally sensitive ecosystems. In Sri Lanka, the Patna tourism region is one
of the most popular eco-tourism regions related to water navigation activity
base natural stream. It is located in the Viharahena Grama Niladhari Division
of the Kotapola Divisional Secretariat in Matara district. The main objective
of this study is to identify the impact of eco-tourism on the sensitive
ecosystem. Both Primary and secondary data were used for this study.
Secondary data were collected through books, magazines, research papers and
primary data collected through the survey, observation, and discussion. 20
villages and 30 local and foreign tourists were randomly selected as the
sample. Collected data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively through
tables, charts by using the excel worksheet. Also taken photographs used to
analyse the impact on the sensitivity of the ecosystem. According to the data
analysed, 70% of the tourists were said that the major environmental impacts
happening on the litter, sewage, and water contamination due to irregular use
of Patna natural water body. Therefor need to pay more attention to sustainable
eco-tourism to develop the tourism area as an eco-friendly tourist region.
