Sustainable Tourism Unit (STU)

Message from Coordinator

 

The Sustainable Tourism Unit at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo (UOC-STU) aspires to play a pivotal role as a leading strategic knowledge partner for sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka through the creation, development and dissemination of evidence-based knowledge and data-driven information to industry professionals, policy & decision-makers and to the other stakeholders.

As the first-ever Sustainable Tourism Unit established under the Faculty of Arts in national universities in Sri Lanka, our unique position and vantage point allow us to harness the diverse knowledge, expertise and skills of thirteen departments and several teaching Units offering courses in the field of Social Sciences, enabling us to create significant contribution for sustainable tourism development.

Social Sciences must be considered as a key knowledge contributor for achieving sustainable tourism development. They provide essential insights into human behavior, cultural dynamics, and economic factors that underpin sustainable tourism such as tourists’ behavior aligning with their preferences, community engagement and participation in sustainable tourism, assessing the industry’s socioeconomic effects, designing policies for equitable benefits, inclusive growth, integrated approach with ethical consideration, ensuring tourism’s long-term sustainability and so on.

We firmly believe in the fundamental importance of knowledge in raising awareness. At the heart of our mission is the motto “Wisdom Enlightening for Sustainable Tourism,” symbolizing our dedication to serving as a catalyst for the integration of industry best practices and global standards into our national tourism landscape and way forward for sustainable tourism development.

Our ultimate goal is to establish the UOC-STU as the premier center of excellence in fostering innovation, sharing evidence-based knowledge, creating a reliable platform for meaningful dialogues and materializing the results-driven actions to drive sustainable tourism development by taking Sri Lanka Tourism to the pinnacle of global tourism.

INTRODUCTION

Wisdom Enlightening for Sustainable Tourism Development

 

Sustainable tourism, as defined by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), refers to tourism that considers its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts while addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities (UNWTO, 2022). Sustainable tourism initiatives must align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, a set of 17 interconnected goals established by the United Nations in 2015 to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and promote prosperity by 2030.

The travel and tourism industry play a pivotal role in global economic growth. In 2019, it contributed a staggering $2.9 trillion to the world GDP, constituting 11% of the global economy. This sector accounts for approximately 30% of service exports and generates over 350 million jobs, making up almost 10% of global employment. It serves as a prominent economic force in both developed and developing nations, experiencing substantial growth. Sri Lanka, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw tourism contribute nearly $4 billion in 2018, constituting 5-7% of its GDP, 23% of foreign exchange earnings, and providing employment for over 450,000 people, establishing it as a critical industry for the country’s prosperity.

However, the unchecked expansion of the tourism sector has faced significant scrutiny due to unsustainable development practices, resulting in adverse effects on the environment & ecological balance, degradation of cultural heritage while increasing the level of poverty and marginalized communities.

It is imperative for Sri Lanka, a highly sought-after tourist destination known for its natural beauty and cultural diversity, to align its tourism development with the SDGs outlined in the Global 2030 Agenda. This alignment is essential not only for the sustainable growth of tourism but also to elevate Sri Lanka’s tourism industry to global prominence. Striking a balance between inclusive and integrated economic growth and environmental conservation is paramount for the long-term success of the tourism sector.

Contributions of STU

    • Establishing the Sustainable Tourism Unit (STU) at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo is to cater a dynamic and evidence-based knowledge platform incorporating different dimensions of sustainable tourism development applying through an interdisciplinary approach that engages different subject disciplines of not only the various departments belong to the Faculty of Arts but also all means of evidence-based knowledge contributions from different faculties of the University of Colombo. The STU also aspires to establish a robust multistakeholder dialogue platform that effectively engages stakeholders for successful sustainable tourism practices and implementation in Sri Lanka
    • The STU is to empower industry stakeholders by enhancing their knowledge, skills and competencies for fostering sustainable practices and successful implementation in the tourism industry.
    • The STU aims to forge partnerships with national bodies like SLTDA and other organizations/authorities and also with international organizations such as GSTC, UNWTO, WTTC, and the other related international organizations to ensure a productive knowledge partnership for sustainable tourism while offering learning opportunities for the students of the university to apply sustainable practices, expanding their professional networks.
    • The STU’s role also spans local, regional and national levels in providing right awareness, information, training, and consultations. Its contribution is to ensure a well-effective people-centric and inclusive tourism development through a well balance approach between the local wisdom and modern global technology.
    • The Unit is committed, through multidisciplinary educational and action-oriented research work, training and consultancies to the direct involvement in and promotion of sustainable tourism development activities, through enhancing global recognition of STU at international sustainable tourism development forums.

 

Vision

Providing outcomes-based learning & research, knowledge-driven innovation and results-focused training to be the Center of Excellence in Asia for sustainable tourism development.

 

Mission

With academic excellence and professional recognition, the mission is to empower learners to deliver cutting-edge contribution to spearhead the accomplishing of sustainable tourism development by taking Sri Lanka Tourism to the pinnacle of global tourism.

 

Objectives:

The STU is to disseminate the industry-interactive and application-oriented knowledge to enhance the required skills with necessary practices and applications considering global best practices to achieve sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka through effective industry & academic partnerships in nationally and internationally.

  • To make the students of tourism study programmes of the Faculty of Arts involved with the activities of STU to provide evidence-based knowledge contribution to achieve sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka.
  • Develop tailor-made and regular training courses to empower all stakeholders of Sri Lanka Tourism for achieving sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka.
  • To create the updated databases useful for successful implantation of sustainable tourism development at local, regional and national levels.
  • To conduct multi and inter-disciplinary action-oriented research, seminars, workshops, conferences and consultancies with the collaboration of the other faculties of the University of Colombo, also with the other universities & higher educational institutes, non-governmental organizations and other related organizations on sustainable tourism practices.
  • To create a knowledge platform for industry-policy dialogues among key stakeholders to design the results-base policy measurers and effective management strategies for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sri Lanka
  • Conduct awareness programmes for communities and the other stakeholders to ensure their effective participation for sustainable tourism development.
  • To perform as a main training partner for national sustainable tourism certifications in Sri Lanka

Certificate Courses (In Progress)

Professional/Advanced Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management
Professional/Advanced Certificate in Sustainable Travel Operation and Management
Professional/Advanced Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Policy and Application
Professional/Advanced Certificate in Tourism Entrepreneurship and Business Development

 

Diploma Courses (In Progress)

 

Higher Diploma in Sustainable Tourism Development and Application

 

Degree Programme (In Progress)

Special Degree in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management (120 Credits)

 

Postgraduate Courses (In Progress)

 

Masters in Sustainable Tourism Development (One-Year)

Joint Research 

 

Publications

 

International Journal of Sustainable Tourism

 

Conference

Symposium Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism 2022, Jointly Organized by Ministry of Environment and University of Colombo

Top50 Global Economic Forum 2023, International Symposium Empowering Women for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development Jointly Organized by Women in Management & Alumni ATEHM, University of Colombo

 

Upcoming Conference

Further Details : www. uoctourismconference.org

https://uoctourism.com/

Academic Projects

 

An Outcomes-Based Training Programme for Provincial Officers on: Sustainable Tourism Destination Management and Practices Jointly Organized by UNDP and SLTDA, Conducted by Tourism Studies Programmes Department of Economics, University of Colombo

 

Industry Projects

 

Case Studies

 

Symposium Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism 2022, Jointly Organized by Ministry of Environment and University of Colombo

A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY ON PROMOTING HOT WATER WELLS INTO HOT WATER POOLS

Naleefa A.W.N.

A CASE STUDY OF IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL OF PROMOTING AMPARA DISTRICT AS A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATION IN SRI LANKA

Hasareli Hirunika, Sampath Siriwardena

CONSERVATION THROUGH BENEFIT SHARING: A CASE STUDY IN THE WEWALKELE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE AREA IN KALA OYA BASIN, WANATHAVILLUWA, PUTTALAM

Weerasinghe M.A.M.T., Jayasinghe L.D.C.

A CASE STUDY ON COOPERATIVE APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEMBUWATTA LAKE

Rathnapriya KPPV, Liyanage HN, Guruge TPGWD

A CASE STUDY ON THE ISSUES FACED IN PROMOTING RITIGALA, SRI LANKA AS A NATURE TOURISM DESTINATION

Senarathna TMCD.

SUSTAINABLE CULINARY TOURISM PROMOTION: IN THE CASE OF ELLA SPICE LAND

Gayathri P., Krishantha Ganeshan

A CASE STUDY ON WINDSURFING AND KITE SURFING AT KALPITIYA, SRI LANKA: DEVELOPING A LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Jayasinghe L.D.C., Weerasinghe M.A.M.T.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ON WILDLIFE TOURISM IN THE YALA NATIONAL PARK WITH SPECIAL CONCERN TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Liyanage P.S

A CASE STUDY ON SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN TRINCOMALEE, SRI LANKA

Duminduhewa C., Vithanage VKM

A CASE STUDY ON PROMOTING SRI LANKAN TRADITIONAL RICE IN JETWING KADURUKETHA

Ishanda Senevirathna

BIODIVERSITY AS A USP TO PROMOTING MEDICAL TOURISM IN SRI LANKA

Charitha Jayasingha

A CASE STUDY OF AGRO TOURISM POTENTIALS IN SRI LANKA: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE UDUGAMA VILLAGE

Thilini Dilanka Kumari Ekanayake

A CASE STUDY OF COMMUNITY TOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Mohamed Firdouse M.G.

A CASE STUDY ON NEW DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM PROTECTING PURPLE-FACED LANGUR (PFL) AND ASSOCIATED BIODIVERSITY

Poorna Yahampath

Prof. DAC Suranga Silva

Coordinator

Sustainable Tourism Unit (UOC-STU)

Faculty of Arts

University of Colombo

 

Contact Number: 0112582666; 0773518500, 0714846402,

Emails: coordinator.stu@arts.cmb.ac.lk; drsuranga@econ.cmb.ac.lk; drsuranga3@gmail.com;

Website: https://arts.cmb.ac.lk/stu

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Sep
18

Upcoming Conference

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