An Analysis of Ethical Tourism Practices and Community-Centered Recovery in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka

Abstract

Tourism is widely promoted as a catalyst for economic recovery, social reconstruction and reconciliation in post-conflict societies. In Sri Lanka, following the end of nearly three decades of civil conflict in 2009, tourism has emerged as a key development strategy, particularly in the war-affected Northern and Eastern Provinces. However, the rapid expansion of tourism in post-conflict contexts has raised critical ethical concerns regarding equity, participation, cultural representation, and governance. This study analyses ethical tourism practices in postconflict Sri Lanka by foregrounding community perspectives and examining tourism’s contribution to community-centered recovery. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study draws on semistructured interviews and focus group discussions with residents, small-scale tourism entrepreneurs, cultural practitioners, community leaders and tourism officials, complemented by analysis of policy documents and ethical tourism frameworks. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key ethical challenges and community experiences related to tourism development. Findings reveal that while tourism has contributed to infrastructure development and livelihood opportunities, ethical tourism remains unevenly institutionalised. Communities expressed concerns regarding unequal benefit distribution, limited participation in decisionmaking, cultural commodification and the dominance of top-down development approaches. These ethical shortcomings constrain tourism’s potential to foster long-term resilience and reconciliation. Nevertheless, the study highlights that community-led, ethically grounded tourism initiatives can strengthen social cohesion, restore cultural dignity, and support postconflict healing. The study concludes that embedding ethical principles, such as inclusive governance, fair benefitsharing, and culturally sensitive representation, into tourism policy and practice is essential for sustainable post-conflict recovery. By aligning tourism development with community resilience and social justice, Sri Lanka can harness tourism as a meaningful instrument for peace building and inclusive development.