An evaluation of the Nuwara Eliya development plan with respect to the sustainable tourism

Abstract

The City of Nuwara Eliya is located in the central hills of Sri Lanka approximately 2000 m above sea level. Nuwara Eliya is a one of the main popular tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, known as "little England". The old brick Post office, country house like hill club, with its hunting pictures, mounted hunting trophies and fish, and it's strict formal dinner attire; the 18 hole golf course, race course etc, all remind it is like as 'England'.

Hence, it is significance for tourism is nationally important as it obviously makes positive contribution to the GDP. Sustainable tourism has become an area of interest where tourism is promoted, and therefore, is adoptable to town of Nuwara Eliya as well. The research question was that whether recent planning initiatives have given due consideration for the sustainable tourism? In order to overcome this problem, the development plan of Nuwara Eliya (2003), prepared by UDA and gazette in 2003 was selected to the study. The development plan (2003) has the control over the land use and the development as a part of the National Development as well as to meet the regional and local interests.

The main objective of the research was to assess the Nuwara Eliya development Plan (2003) in relation to its capacity to promote and facilitate tourism in line with the principles, concepts and theories of Tourism and Sustainable Development.

David Tyldesley and Associates method was used for the evaluation of the development plan. Method involved assessing a plan's vision, objectives, and strategies in relation to broader one set of sustainable tourism principles selected through literature review.

The evaluation revealed that some of the objectives and strategies are likely to have significant sustainable benefits and is certainly driving Nuwara Eliya town towards sustainable tourism rather than away from it. However, some strategies of the plan were neutral while some were adversely affect on sustainable tourism.

It was also studied that Evaluation processes can help development plans make a more effective contribution to achieve the principles of sustainable development. Therefore, the Evaluation should have been done before the plan was approved or adopted.