Abstract:
The homestay concept creates a unique experience for the guests. It also empowers
homestay operators to get additional income and create job opportunities. Ella is a
popular destination for homestay tourism in Sri Lanka. This study is conducted to
find Socio-cultural, Economic and Environmental Motivations for homestay
operators in Ella -Sri Lanka. The researcher used the quantitative method. This study
is based on primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through five point Likert scale questionnaires and 80 homestay operators were selected for
questionnaire data collection. The researcher used simple A simple random sampling
technique. According to findings, there is a strong positive relationship between
Economic Motives and Motivation to retain business and a strong positive
relationship between Social Motives and Motivation to retain business. However,
there is a weak positive relationship between Environmental Motives and Motivation
to retain business. Homestay is a potentially easy solution for the demand for
accommodation facilities for tourism. Policymakers can expand the homestay
concept into developing small-medium enterprises (SME sector) in the tourism
industry in Sri Lanka. As well the government can facilitate to encourage growing
numbers of homestay entrepreneurs.
