THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ON TOURISTS SATISFACTION: STUDY OF COLOMBO FORT TO GALLE

Abstract

This study aims to assess tourists‟ satisfaction level and transport services in Sri Lanka (case study at Fort to Galle), and to identify the relationship between tourist satisfaction and transport service quality. In this study, five objectives and five questionnaires were developed in the study model. The empirical data were collected from tourists via a survey that yielded 300 usable questionnaires, these data were analyzed using a series of multiple regressions to determine the relationship between public transportation service quality and tourist satisfaction. The findings confirmed that transportation service quality has direct impact on tourist satisfaction throughout transport mode facilities, destination accessibility and destination attraction. As a result, this study argued that there is a significant impact of the public transportation service quality on tourist satisfaction, and therefore service quality plays an important role in tourism by increasing the level of tourist satisfaction. This study provides some theoretical and managerial implications based on the findings to academicians and managers/ policy makers of tourism sector. The researcher identified areas for future studies and he discussed the main limitations in this study.