Identify the Potential Demand for Geotourism Travel Trend (Special Reference to Jathika Namal Uyana, Knuckles Mountain Range and Horton Plains in Sri Lanka)
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Date
2020
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Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
This study focused on the potential demand for geotourism travel trends in the context of
the Sri Lankan tourism industry. Geotourism is a new concept and a niche market that has
specific needs. This research aimed to describe the geological significance of the sites
with the basic concept of the creation of geosites and to identify the potential demand for
geotourism travel trends benefiting the tourism stockholders to enhance their knowledge
to the future demand of the tourism industry. Hence, the study was conducted to identify
potential demand for geotourism travel trends, to identify the impact of visitor perception
on the potential demand for Geotourism, and to identify the relationship between
destination capabilities and potential demand for geotourism, and to the identify the travel
agency perception on the potential demand for geotourism travel trend. Research-based
was on mixed-method approach. The primary data were collected from 120 foreign
tourists using a convenience sampling technique and a questionnaire consisted of 45
questions. 10 structured interviews were conducted with travel agencies to cover the
qualitative section of the study. The quantitative data analytical method was employed in
analysing the data following descriptive statistics, simple linear regression analysis, and
correlation analysis using SPSS 22. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic
analysis. The finding reflected that visitor perceptions were significantly influenced by
the potential demand for geotourism travel trends towards geosites. There was a strong
positive relationship between destination capabilities and potential demand for
geotourism travel trend of the foreign tourists towards geosites of Namal Uyana,
Knuckles Mountain Range, Horton Plains. Introducing awareness programmes,
innovative tour guide lectures, motivating tourism stockholders to address the new market
it directly affected on the potential demand for geotourism travel trend towards Sri Lanka.
Keywords: Geotourism, Geosites, Potential demand, Destination capabilities, Visitor
perception
Description
Keywords
Biodiversity – Sri Lanka, Hospitality Management, Tourism Industry, Tourism Management, Event Management