An ‘ecotourist's recent experience in Sri Lanka

A Review: National Parks in Sri Lanka and Impending Development and Research

“…Visitor satisfaction influences visitor demand and word-of-mouth recommendations leading to revisits and increasing tourist numbers (Sumanapala et al 2015;Perera and Vlosky 2013). Most studies show that wildlife-watching visitors or nature-based visitors are highly educated (Sumanapala et al 2017;Perera, Senevirathna and Vlosky 2015;Newsome 2014). Infrastructure and service related to parks and activities influence visitors' demands and park incomes.…”

“…Visitor satisfaction will lead to return visiting, and word-of-mouth recommendation will buoy sustainable wild-life tourism (Eagles 2013). Newsome (2014) advises that if Sri Lankan parks do not show positive ways in ecotourism practice the country's reputation will be damaged. There is an urgent need to conduct more research to fill gaps in understanding sustainable wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka.…”

Understanding the impacts of ecotourism on biodiversity: a multi- scale, cumulative issue influenced by perceptions and politics

“…Indeed, generating definitions for ecotourism has been something of an academic 'cottage industry', with more than 80 definitions published in recent decades (e.g., Hughes, 2013). The multitude of definitions, and associated understandings, can lead to some confusion as to what actually constitutes an ecotourism product (e.g., Newsome et al, 2005;Newsome and Rodger, 2013;Newsome, 2013). Despite the plethora of definitions, most authors have identified a set of common principles across variants of ecotourism.…”

“…Further to this, ecotourism is considered to occupy a spectrum of products and experiences based on the types of nature-based locations visited, how the experience is managed and where the emphasis lies in relation to the core principles listed above. Ecotourism is thus complex as it encompasses a range of activities from niche market to mass forms of tourism in a variety of geographic locations and scales of focus (Fennell, 2001;Fennell and Weaver, 2005;Weaver, 2005;Beaumont, 2011;Buckley, 2013;Newsome, 2013). This can lead to a range of terminology that spans a spectrum from mass to niche ecotourism , soft to hard ecotourism (Orams, 2001) or 'light' to stringent ecotourism (Buckley, 2013).…”

Jurassic Worldas a contemporary wildlife tourism theme park allegory

“…Newsome, 2013). Additional real-world examples of the wow factor include theme parks such as the Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia.…”