Cultural and Heritage Tourism Development in Postwar Regions: Concerns for Sustainability from Northern Sri Lankan Capital Jaffna

Abstract

Cultural and heritage tourism shows tremendous potential in developing countries and regions where traditional economic activities are no longer sustainable. Sharing and preserving cultural heritage in tourism is challenging while advocating economic benefits. An integrated approach to examine sustainability, tourism, cultural heritage and economic wellbeing is overseen. Theorizing above concepts in postwar context indicates laps in academic literature. This paper examines the cultural and heritage tourism development potentials and their sustainability issues in postwar development in Jaffna. The study argues that comprehensive analysis of cultural resources and their potential in ongoing development, drawing plans and institutionalizing the cultural and heritage tourism initiatives, enlightening authorities on cultural and heritage tourism and sustainable community development, stakeholder empowerment and fully engaging all development agencies in a single mission in postwar areas are prerequisites for sustainability of ongoing isolated activities. The empowerment of community and other key stakeholders of the cultural heritage is the key to address long-term sustainability.

Keywords: cultural and heritage tourism, postwar development, resident community, Sri Lanka, sustainability

JEL Classification: M10, M16, M20, M21, O10