Effect of Residents’ Perception towards Tourism Impacts on Intention to Involve in Tourism Development; Special Reference to Coastal Area in Negombo

Abstract

Generosity and cooperation of the residents is essential for the attainment and sustainability of tourism development goals in country. Moreover, the intention of residents to involve in tourism development lead to a solid foundation for a successful tourism industry in the country. The perception of local residents towards tourism impacts determines the success and failure of any tourism developmental project. Hence, this study attempts to investigate the influential impact of the residents’ perception towards tourism impacts and their intention to involve in tourism development. The perception of 200 randomly selected residents was surveyed employing a structured questionnaire, from 10 Grama Niladari divisions using stratified sampling technique, in Negombo coastal area which is one of the most attracted tourist destination with ample number of tourism developmental projects.The results of regression analysis reveal that the effect of residents’ perception towards economic impacts and environmental impacts are significantly influential on their intention to involve in tourism development while residents’ perception towards socio-cultural impacts does not effect on intention to involve in tourism development. Thus, the study recommends the respective authorities to take action to minimize the negative economic and environmental impacts while increasing the positive impacts that eventually leads an upsurge intention of residents to involve in tourism development.