Visitor Perspectives on Perceived Experiences at Indigenous Vedda Community Tour in Sri Lanka: An Explorative Study of the Tripadvisor Reviews
摘要
Indigenous community in any country is an asset in many aspects. Vedda community in Sri Lanka attracts considerable tourist influx, from both domestic and foreign visitors. The contemporary socio-economic appeal specially derived from tourism affairs has a massive influence on the livelihoods and lifestyles of the Vedda people. Thus, aim of this study is to explore the visitor perspectives on the authentic experience at Vedda community villages in Sri Lanka, based on the Tripadvisor reviews. The study was conducted as a qualitative study where thematic analysis was referred to as the data analysis method, utilizing the deductive approach. All the Tripadvisor reviews, which were 30 reviews posted by the previous visitors based on their visit experiences on Vedda people in Sri Lanka were referred in this study. In the thematic analysis, five parental themes were identified as (1) authentic experience, (2) price, (3) knowledge and information, (4) tourist facilities, (5) overall experience and recommendations. The results indicate that the visitors’ perception on the perceived experience is highly determined by the authenticity, price, and availability and accuracy of information. Study findings emphasize the effect of commercialization and modernization on Veddas’ indigenous lifestyle, which has led for the demotivating recommendations. Outcomes of the study imply the necessity of introducing a sustainable mechanism for indigenous tourism at Vedda settlements in Sri Lanka.