Abstract:
Backpacker tourism in Sri Lanka is an emerging yet underexplored segment with
significant potential to support sustainable tourism development. This study explores
the motivations, preferences and challenges of backpacker tourists visiting Sri Lanka,
along with their contribution towards environmental, social and economic
development. An exploratory qualitative research design was adopted, using an
inductive approach to capture authentic insights directly from backpackers. Data were
collected from 11 international backpacker tourists through semi-structured, in-depth
interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings highlight that backpacker
tourists’ motivations are driven by “push” factors such as cultural immersion, social
connection, adventure seeking and escapism, and “pull” factors including scenic
landscapes, affordability, authentic experiences and local hospitality. Preferences
focus on budget accommodation, public transport, nature-based activities and local
cuisine, while challenges include infrastructure gaps, safety concerns and limited
affordable sustainable options. The concept of “Incidental Sustainability” emerged as
a result of the study, which describes the unintentional contributions to sustainability
through backpacker travel behaviour. Overall, this study highlights the untapped
potential of backpacker tourism in Sri Lanka. It encourages tourism authorities and
businesses to understand, support and include backpackers in national tourism plans,
making backpacker tourism a key path for Sri Lanka’s sustainable tourism growth.
