~ 442 ~ IJMRD 2015; 2(2): 442-447 www.allsubjectjournal.com Impact factor: 3.672 Received: 03-02-2015 Accepted: 18-02-2015 E-ISSN: 2349-4182 P-ISSN: 2349-5979 Ruwan Ranasinghe PhD Candidate, School of Tourism Management Sichuan University, Chengdu, PRC Mobile 132 2819 8861 Correspondence: Ruwan Ranasinghe PhD Candidate, School of Tourism Management Sichuan University, Chengdu, PRC Mobile 132 2819 8861 Evaluation of homestay accommodation supply in Sri Lanka Ruwan Ranasinghe Abstract Homestay has been a significant topic in the contemporary tourism research. The demand side or motivation, perception and satisfaction of visitors have often been investigated. This paper investigate the supply perspective of homestay accommodation in the context of Sri Lanka. Qualitative approach was selected supported by ethnographic interviews. The population being all homestay operators in Sri Lanka, a sample of twenty seven homestay suppliers were interviewed all over the country representing nine homestay zones. Transcriptions were coded, analysed and structured into qualitative narrations. Source of income, business prospect, persuasion and experience, appeal of the area, personal appeal and availability of resources motivated homestay supply. The weaknesses of the exiting product, socio- cultural issues, and external disturbances, unethical behaviour of guests, guest complaints and poor capability of operators were of significant issues in homestay operations. Planning, marketing, research, increase customer service and sufficient allocation can ensure socio-economic advancement from homestay accommodation. Keywords: Homestay, Qualitative, Supply, Sri Lanka, Tourism 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Cultural and heritage tourism focuses on the characteristics of tourists who visit cultural and heritage destinations. It has become a major new area in the tourism industry because of people’s inclination to seek adventure, traditional culture, history, archaeology and interaction with local people (Hollinshead, 1993). Tourists seek out adventures that could immerse them in a culture or a place (Thompson, 1998). In the present context tourism has become a cultural linkage which connect different cultures and expose various cultural backgrounds to the world. According to the Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO, 2012), “….tourism is an economic sector based on human interaction, exchange and dialogue. WTD 2011 is a call to all those involved in tourism to act in a way that is conscious and respectful of culture, which promotes intercultural dialogue and ensures that local communities fully participate in, and benefit from...” Source: Secretary General (UNWTO, 2012) The homestay which refers to a stay at a residence by a traveler or a visiting foreign student is viewed as a mean of culture and heritage tourism emerging with traditional houses and culture of residents achieving two goals at the same time: increasing the income of host country families and encouraging them to preserve their cultural heritage by presenting their traditional houses (Wang, 2007). Many tourists believe that the homestays they participate in represent a unique living in a new culture. Tourists seek authentic experience and architecture of the host culture. Homestays could provide the cultural experience and the sense of being at home. Through homestays, these cultural attributes often provide participants with such staged authenticity and acceptable satisfaction while hosts seek to offer tourists a genuine connection to the community. Residents’ desire tourists to visit their houses because travelers bring economic benefits to their community while they are still maintain their traditional culture and heritage (Cole, 2007). The immediate requirement for rooms to feed the tourist industry with the rapid increase of tourists into the country has prompted the authorities to promote the homestay and bungalow concept. The recent past has shown that the rooms required to cope with the huge influx of tourists is far from sufficient. As a quick fix solution, the SLTDA has launched a programme, calling interested parties willing to provide accommodation to International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development 2015; 2(2): 442-447