A Study on the Tourist Attractions in Colombo City
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Colombo is the most populous city in Sri Lanka, with the population of 2,309,809 in 2012. Especially
Colombo City is being developed including all the infrastructure facilities such as new star class
hotels, residencies, restaurants, entertaining areas, gardens, shopping complexes, and transportation
modes opening vast attractions for both domestic and foreign tourists. In cultural tourism both ancient
and modern cultural aspects are attracted by the tourists. Colombo City the hub of Sri Lanka has been
extremely blended with colonial, traditional, historical and even modern tangible and intangible
heritages. The major objective of this research was to identify the foreign tourists’ perception
regarding Colombo city as a tourist destination. The research focused on tourists’ motivations for
visiting the city, major attractions and visitor satisfaction on the services and facilities related to travel
and hospitality industry. Being a heritage city mixed with both ancient heritages and modern life style
the city of Colombo has something to offer for anyone.
Methodology
The research was conducted to identify the tourists’ perception on the tourist attractions in Colombo
city. Observation method was carried out with field observations, interviews and questionnaires.
Some of the major cultural attractions at Colombo City were selected as the field to conduct the
survey. The research sample was included 100 of foreign tourists who were randomly selected at
various modern cultural attractions located in Colombo City including Floating Market, Liberty
Arcade Square, Majestic City Complex, Liberty Plaza, Galle Fort Court, Galle Face Green, Race
Court, ODEL shopping mall, Casinos, Tourist Hotels etc. 100 foreign tourists were given structured
questionnaires which were entirely based on the visitor motivation, visitor satisfaction, visitor
facilities, and tourist attractions in the city. Most of the tourists were individually interviewed to
collect qualitative data regarding the visitors’ perception on the cultural attractions located at
Colombo City. During the research both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered and they have
been analyzed hereafter.
Result and Discussion
The foreign tourists are interviewed with structured questionnaires for getting their perception about
the cultural attractions. Foreign tourists’ motivation to visit Colombo City was observed and the
following figure illustrates various motivations with different scales to visit the city. (See Figure 1)
Most of the foreigners are arriving at Colombo for the Business purposes including business
conferences, trade exhibitions, meetings and other business related purposes. Still Colombo city,
being the major commercialized city in the island bears priority in MICE tourism. Leisure purposed
foreign tourists are recorded as 23% and they are highly attracted by the luxurious accommodation
facilities and hospitalities service offered at the star class hotels in Colombo city and its periphery.
Night life of the city has been attracted by 15% while 12% of tourists are arriving at Colombo with
the purpose of shopping. Their major attractive shopping destinations were Majestic City, Liberty
Plaza, Unity Plaza, Arcade Square, House of Fashion and Cool Planet. 17% of tourists are arriving at
the city with educational purposes based on researches and academic purposes. They had mentioned
in their comments that rather than the modern attractions or leisure based locations they are strongly
attracted by the locations and sites where they can observe culture, history and arts, including the
places such as Colombo National Museum, National Art Gallery, Colonial buildings at the city etc.
Description
Keywords
Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management, Tourism Management, Tourism, Tourism Industry, Management