RUSL Research Symposiums

Operational Issues and Challenges of Spa and Wellness Hotels in Trincomalee of Sri Lanka: Perspectives from Managers and Therapists

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Operational Issues and Challenges of Spa and Wellness Hotels in Trincomalee of Sri Lanka: Perspectives from Managers and Therapists Ekanayaka, E.M.A.D.; Dasanayake, D.M.C. Spa and wellness tourism has become a growing segment in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, with Trincomalee emerging as a promising destination due to its coastal beauty, cultural heritage, and therapeutic potential. Despite its growing popularity, the spa and wellness hotel sector in Trincomalee continues to face numerous operational challenges that restrict its growth and service performance. This research investigates the key issues and challenges experienced by spa and wellness hotels in Trincomalee, focusing on aspects such as service quality standards, human resource constraints, infrastructural limitations, sustainability concerns, and competitiveness in the market. The study employed a qualitative approach, using in-depth semi structured interviews conducted based on a pre-prepared interview guide with ten purposively selected hotel managers and senior spa therapists representing leading spa and wellness establishments in the region. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and identify recurring patterns and insights. Findings reveal that most spa and wellness hotels strive to integrate traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern wellness treatments to create authentic visitor experiences. However, several challenges persist, including a shortage of skilled personnel, limited professional training opportunities, insufficient financial investment, inadequate infrastructure, and weak digital marketing capacity. Environmental concerns such as waste management and energy use emissions also pose difficulties for sustainable operations. In response, hotel operators have adopted adaptive strategies such as personalised guest care, local resource utilisation, employee skill development, and collaborative partnerships with regional tourism networks to maintain service quality and attract clientele. The study concludes that overcoming these challenges requires coordinated action between the public and private sectors through targeted policy support, infrastructure development, and continuous human resource training. Strengthening these areas will promote sustainable wellness tourism in Trincomalee.

Exploring the Experience of the Foreign Solo Female Travelers in Sri Lanka

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Exploring the Experience of the Foreign Solo Female Travelers in Sri Lanka Samarathunga, W.H.M.S.; Jayasinghe, J.A.P.M.; Sanjeewa, D.D.P. Sri Lanka has become an increasingly attractive destination for foreign solo female travellers, offering diverse natural and cultural resources that encourage independent exploration. Solo female travel, however, is not merely about leisure but a gendered practice intersecting with safety, empowerment, and cultural negotiation. The main objective of this study is to examine foreign solo female travellers' experience in Sri Lanka while fostering a more inclusive, female-friendly travel culture. Adopting an interpretivist philosophy and guided by feminist theory, this qualitative study draws on semi-structured interviews with 14 foreign female tourists across Colombo, Kandy, Hikkaduwa, Bandarawela, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, and Habarana. To identify the key themes, the data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis, following the six-phase framework proposed by Braun and Clarke (2013). Findings reveal that Sri Lanka’s natural attractions (beaches, wildlife, landscapes) and cultural heritage (historic sites, cuisine, community interactions) strongly motivate solo female travel. Opportunities for adventure and exploration further enrich experiences. The study concludes that feminist perspectives reveal the coexistence of empowerment and vulnerability, as patriarchal norms, safety concerns, and gendered gazes continue to influence women’s mobility. The study recommends gender-sensitive tourism strategies, including enhanced safety measures, awareness campaigns, and community engagement, to create a supportive environment for solo female travellers. By embedding feminist insights, Sri Lanka can position itself as a pioneering destination promoting women’s mobility, empowerment, and cultural exchange.

Exploring the Impact of High-Performance Work Systems on Job Satisfaction of Hotel Chefs in 5-Star Hotels in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Exploring the Impact of High-Performance Work Systems on Job Satisfaction of Hotel Chefs in 5-Star Hotels in Kandy, Sri Lanka Gunawardhana, H.A.Y.H.; Gamage, A. The demanding environment of luxury hotel kitchens, including long hours, intense pressure and emotional labour, makes chefs especially vulnerable to low job satisfaction and turnover. This study examines how a package of human resource practices, known as High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS), affects job satisfaction among chefs in five-star hotels in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Guided by the AMO (Ability–Motivation–Opportunity) framework, the research focuses on five HPWS dimensions: training, staffing, compensation, performance management, and communication. A quantitative survey was administered using a structured self-report questionnaire among the chefs in all five five-star hotels in Kandy. A total of 115 questionnaires were distributed, and following the data cleaning procedure, only valid responses were included in the analyses. Participants were selected using simple random sampling, and the data analysis was performed in SPSS employing descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The regression model was highly significant and explained a substantial portion of the variance in job satisfaction (R² = 0.739, adjusted R² = 0.726), indicating that the five HPWS dimensions together account for approximately 73.9% of the variance in chefs’ job satisfaction. Compensation, communication, performance management, and staffing indicated significant positive effects on job satisfaction (p < .05), while training demonstrated a small negative and non-significant effect (p > .05). Practically, the findings suggest that luxury hotels aiming to enhance chef retention and service quality should prioritise fair, performance-linked compensation, clear and timely communication, robust performance management, and adequate staffing levels. In addition, training programmes should be critically redesigned to better align with chefs’ needs. This study contributes empirical evidence from Sri Lanka’s luxury hospitality sector, an under-researched context, by examining HPWS dimensions specifically among chefs and identifying which HR practices most strongly predict job satisfaction in high-pressure kitchen environments.

Wildlife Tourism and Local Community Development: A Case Study of Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Wildlife Tourism and Local Community Development: A Case Study of Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka Dissanayake, K.K.D.K.; Jayathilake, P.M.B. This study explores the role of wildlife tourism in promoting local community development in the Minneriya area of Sri Lanka. Wildlife tourism is a significant recreational and economic activity in many countries, providing substantial income generating opportunities for local communities. This study focused on the Minneriya area due to its unique concentration of wildlife attractions, such as Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla, and Hurulu Eco Park. This study employed a qualitative, inductive approach to explore the social, economic, and environmental effects of wildlife tourism on surrounding communities. As the total population around the conservation areas is unknown, a purposive sample of fifteen residents, those who actively engage in the tourism industry, was selected. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, which allowed for rich insights into the participants' experiences. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key areas of impact, generating seven themes. The findings reveal that wildlife tourism contributes to community development through several dimensions, including economic and social empowerment, environmental conservation, infrastructure and educational development, employment generation, attitudinal transformation, and the creation of new income sources. Consequently, this study emphasises the potential of wildlife tourism to foster sustainable and inclusive community development.