REPURPOSING TEA ESTATE BUNGALOWS AS AN ACCOMMODATION OPTION FOR TEA TOURISM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NUWARA ELIYA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Abstract

The tea industry in Sri Lanka faces a range of problems regarding productivity and revenue generation. Studies have revealed that tea tourism is one of the niche markets supporting the economic sustainability of the tea industry. Still, insufficient accommodation is a significant internal barrier in practising tea tourism in the Hill Country. Repurposing tea estate bungalows as an accommodation option has been identified as an extra revenue-generating channel for the tea industry and to overcome the inadequate accommodation services to practice tourism in Hill Country. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the impediments and strategies for repurposing the tea estate bungalows as an accommodation option for tourism and a sustainable economic solution for the tea and tourism industries. Accordingly, semi-structured interviews were conducted among the managerial employees of tea estates using convenient sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results revealed the lack of resources, skillful staff, easy access, the business scope for tourism, community awareness on tourism and additional operational costs, disturbances to the planter’s personal life as the impediments for repurposing tea estate bungalows for tourism accommodation. The findings of the study are important in applying this concept to benefit both the tea and tourism industries in Sri Lanka.