Prof. R.S.S.W. Arachchi graduated from Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka before receiving his Master’s degree from Colombo University, Sri Lanka and PhD degree from Management and Science University in Malaysia. He is currently working as a Professor in Tourism Management at the Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya. He has been involved in various administrative activities at the university and contributed his service to various government and private sector tourism projects as a consultant and a resource person in various workshops. His major teaching and research areas are ecotourism, community-based tourism, sustainable tourism development, responsible tourism, environment and tourism resources and homestay tourism in Asian Countries. He has published nearly 40 articles in well-recognized journals both in Sri Lanka and overseas. Prof. Arachchi is an editorial board member of the Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, The International Journal of Education Humanities and Social Science and a member of the Global Association for Humanities and Social Science Research. Prof. Arachchi is also a leading consultant in sustainable tourism, community-based eco-tourism and regulatory advice, curriculum development and quality parameters development projects in Sri Lanka.

Awards and Grants

The best scholar in the discipline of tourism- Sri Lanka Education Leadership Awards- 2019

Best researcher of Faculty of Management Studies – 2021 (University Award)

Dean’s Research Award for the best Research Performance (1^st Runner Up)- 2022

Project Coordinator CESTour (Centers of Excellence in Sustainable Tourism) is a European Union-funded project grant that aims to build the concept of sustainable tourism on a regional and national level in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India.

Memberships

Professional member of the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality

Lifetime member of the Global Association for Humanities and Social Science Research (GAHSSR)

Editorial Board Member- Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management (ISSN 2328-2169)

Editorial Board Member- International Journal of Education Humanities and Social Science

Editorial Board Member- International Journal of Studies in Social Science Research (SSSR)

Charter member of Lions Club International

Professional member of the Business Coaches Association (PBCA)

Community-Based Eco-tourism

Sustainable Tourism

Event Management

Tourism Entrepreneurship 

Books

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2019). An analysis of Eco-Tourism Practices in Eco Resorts: A review of Sri Lankan Eco-Resorts, ISBN 978-620-0-09274-8, Lambert Academic Publishing, Mauritius.

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Sellahewa, W.N (2023). The Art of Mental History, ISBN 978-624-99789-2-8, Author Publication

Sellahewa, W.N., Arachchi, R.S.S.W (2023). Studying Entrepreneurship in Simple (ව්‍යවසායකත්ව අධ්‍යයනය සරලව) ISBN: 978-624-99789-0-4, Author Publication

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Sellahewa, W.N (2023). A strategic guide for Finnace Success (මුල්‍ය සාර්ථකත්වය සඳහා උපාය මාර්ග අත්පොත) ISBN ISBN: 978-624-99789-3-5, Author Publication.

Book Chapters

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Gnanapala, A. (2020). COVID-19 and Tourism: Crisis and Challenges of Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka, COVID-19 Crisis: Policy Solutions and Way Forward to Rebuild Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Sector, Bharti Publications, India

 Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). Rebuilding Tourism in Sri Lanka: Short- and Long-Term Approaches of the Sri Lankan Government to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 Global Pandemic, Crisis Management and Rebuilding of Tourism Development, Publication of Department of Economics, University of Colombo.

Abeyratne, S.N., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2021). Eco-Tourism or Green Washing? A Study on the Link between Green Practices and Revisit Intention of Eco Tourists: Future of Tourism in Asia, Publication of Springer, Singapore.

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2021). The Application of SERVQUAL Model on Detecting Satisfaction and Behavioral Intention of Eco Tourists: A Study of Sri Lankan Eco Resorts: Future of Tourism in Asia, Publication of Springer, Singapore.

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Gnanapala, A. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka: The Dilemmas of Industry Sustainability, COVID-19 and the Tourism Industry- Sustainability, Resilience and New Directions, Routledge Publication

Arachchi R.S.S.W., Sandaruwani J.A.R.C., Dinusha G.V.H. (2022) Connecting the Connected: How Is Sri Lanka Prepared to Respond to Digital Tourists? In: Hassan A. (eds) Technology Application in Tourism in Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5461-9_22

Nawarathna, A.M.D.B., Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Bandara, W.M.A.H. (2022). Information Technology and Its Challenges Towards Sri Lankan Event Tourism: Event Managers’ Perspective. In: Hassan, A. (eds) Technology Application in Tourism Fairs, Festivals and Events in Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8070-0_15

G.V.H. Dinusha., J.A.R.C. Sandaruwani., Arachchi R.S.S.W. (2022) Line Rooms: Authentic Approach to Heritage Tourism, Routledge Handbook of Tea Tourism (1^st Ed:) Routledge Publication. (ISBN: 9781032053233).

J.A.R.C. Sandaruwani., G.V.H. Dinusha., Arachchi R.S.S.W. (2022) Hospitality and Tea: Taking Tea Culture to the Next Level, Routledge Handbook of Tea Tourism (1st Ed:) Routledge Publication. (ISBN: 9781032053233)

Nawarathna, A.M.D.B., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2023). Antecedents and Challenges of Sustainable Event Management Practices in Sri Lanka. In: Dhariwal, E., Arora, S., Sharma, A., and Hazzan, A (eds) Event Tourism and Sustainable Community Development -Advances, Effects, and Implications. Apple Academic Press, USA.

Sathsarani, K.A.S.N., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2023). Harmonizing Luxury and Sustainability: Potential of Developing Luxury Sustainable Tourism in Sri Lanka from Hoteliers’ Perspective, Felicitation Volume of Mr H.G. Piyasiri, Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (ISBN: 9786245727353)

Publication of full papers in journals/ conference proceedings

Vithanage, N. S., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2008). Community-based eco-tourism with environmental conservation for sustainable development. A case study in Kuruwita DS area, Rathnapura District, Sri Lanka. (The abstract was published in the Annual Symposium Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities of Sabaragamuwa University in 2007, and the full text was published in the Journal of Geo-informatics for Sustainable Development-2008)

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Bandara, H.M.C.G. (2009). Determinants of labour turnover of lower-level employees in Sri Lankan hotels- A study of Club Palm Bay and Rosen Renaissance hotels. (The abstract was published in the International Symposium Journal of Sabaragamuwa University in 2008, and the full text was published in the annual SUSL journal- 2009)

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2009). The potential of developing caves as a Community Based Eco-Tourism (CBET) activity in Rathnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province in Sri Lanka. A study of Batathota lena and Batadomba lena - Kuruwita DS area (The abstract was published in the International Symposium Journal of Sabaragamuwa University- 2008, and the full text was published in the annual SUSL journal- 2009)

Thennakoon, W.D.N.S.M., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2010). Sustainability of eco-tourism practices in Sri Lanka- A Hunas Falls Hotel case study.Wayamba Journal of Management- 2010

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Thennakoon, W.D.N.S.M (2011). Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a contemporary management practice for an organization hospitality industry: Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo. Wayamba Journal of Management- 2011

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2011). The impacts imposed by beach boys as tourism service providers on the tourism industry- A case study of Induruwa (Sri Lanka) The International Symposium Journal of Sri Jayewardenepura University- 2011

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2012). Perception of the eco-tourism concepts and its practices in the hotel industry: The case in Eco resorts in Sri Lanka. Wayamba Journal of Management- 2012

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid., Ali Khatibi. (2015). A comparison of Eco-Tourism Practices of Sri Lankan hoteliers with reference to international standards. The Journal of Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, Volume 2 -2015 (online publication). Proceedings of 7^th Tourism Outlook conference, Kandalama, Sri Lanka

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid., Ali Khatibi. (2015). Comparison of eco-tourism practices in Sri Lankan eco-resorts from customer and supplier viewpoints. The International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science, Volume 3, Number 6, August. - 2015

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid., Ali Khatibi. (2015). Eco-tourism practices of Sri Lankan eco-resorts: A supplier perspective analysis. The Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Volume 3 (Issue 5)-2015

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid., Ali Khatibi. (2015). Eco-tourism practices in Sri Lankan eco-resorts: An analysis of satisfaction and behavioural intention of eco-tourists. The International Journal of Business and Social Science, Volume 6- No 10, October 2015

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid., Ali Khatibi. (2016). A hoteliers perspective analysis of eco-resort concept: A study of Sri Lankan eco-resorts. The Journal of Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, Volume 3 -2016 (online publication) Proceedings of 8^th Tourism Outlook conference, Lombok, Indonesia

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Wijesundara, C.N.R., Amarasinghe, A.A.M.D. (2017). The study on the level of visitor satisfaction at different park attributes of Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Research in Management Science and Technology, Volume 5, Issue 6, November 2017

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2018). Factors affecting the less community participation in homestay tourism businesses: A study of homestay project of Heel-Oya, Sri Lanka. ISSCR Conference proceedings-Vietnam- 2018

Dissanayake, D.M.K.D., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2018). Tourist attitudes of visitor management techniques in Sigiriya for the visitor experience quality. ICMR Conference Proceedings- 2018Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Sampath, N.S.K.H.P., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2018). The impacts of tour guides’ servability on foreign tourist satisfaction: Study on Western Province, Sri Lanka. ICMR Conference Proceedings- 2018. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2019). The effect of green practices on tourists’ behavioural intention: A study of hoteliers in Central Province of Sri Lanka. Peradeniya Management Review - Volume I Issue 2 (2019)

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). Perceptions and attitudes of female tourism graduates towards retention in the tourism industry: with special reference to Sri Lanka. Conference proceedings of 2^nd Tourist Conference- Sustainable Tourism: Shaping a Better Future – Kasetsart University, Thailand -2020 (Online publication)

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). An analysis of destination attributes for attracting international millennials to Kandy City, Sri Lanka. Post Conference Proceedings of the 7^th International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management (ICHOT), Vol. 5, Issue 1, 2020 (Online Publication)

Danthanarayana, C.P., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). Impact of restaurant attributes on customer perceived value and customer satisfaction: special reference to beach restaurants in Southern coastal area, Sri Lanka. Post Conference Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management (ICHOT), Vol. 5, Issue 1, 2020 (Online Publication)

Premarathna, U.A.D., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). Consumer value-adding on Ramayana tourism in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) Volume 7, Issue 3 (2020) (Online publication)

Assella, A.P.N., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). Relationship between job role stress and performance of non-managerial employees in travel agencies in Sri Lanka. Journal of Tourism Economics and Applied Research (JTEAR) Volume 4, Issue 1 (2020) (Online publication)

Arachchi, R.S.S.W., Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 and the future of tourism employment in Sri Lanka: A route to recovery and resilience. Journal of Management and Tourism Research Special Issue (2020) 15-26

Danthanarayana, C.P., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). Role of restaurant attributes and customer perceived value in shaping customer satisfaction: A SEM-based analysis in beach restaurants in the south coast, Sri Lanka. Journal of Management and Tourism Research Volume 3 Issue 2 (2020) 48-64

Mudunkotuwa, M.A.D.M., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). The impacts of consumers’ perceived risk on attitude and behavioural intention towards street food: A case study of Central Colombo. Journal of Tourism Economics and Applied Research (JTEAR) Volume 4, Issue 2 (2020) (Online publication)

Hamzayini, P., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2020). Residents’ perception of tourism impacts and attitude toward tourism development: A sociocultural perspective analysis in Jaffna district. Journal of Business Management (JBM), Volume 3, Issue II (2020) (Online publication)

Nawarathna, D., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2021). A study on Sustainable event management practices in Sri Lanka; event managers’ perspective. Journal of Tourism and Sustainable Development Review (TSDR). Volume 2, Issue 1 (2021) (Online Publication)

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2021). Effect of tourists’ harassment to the destination image and repeat visit intention of tourists: A case study of Sri Lanka.Journal of Management (JOM). Volume 15, Issue 1(48-60) (2021) (Online Publication)

Wijesingha, P.R.D, Arachchi, R.S.S.W (2021), The Role of high-performance work practices and personality traits on employee innovative work behaviours. Asian Journal of Management Studies (AJMS), Volume 1, Issue 2

Premarathna, U.A.D., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2021). Issues and challenges in developing and promoting Ramayana trail tourism in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR),

Nawarathna, D., Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2021). Green event management initiatives in Sri Lanka. Journal of Responsible Tourism Management (JRTM).

Kothalawala, H.S, (2021) Potential of developing scuba diving tourism in Sri Lanka: Scuba diving operators’ perspective. Journal of Tourism Economics and Applied Research (JTEAR) Volume 5, Issue 1 (2021) (Online publication)

Chamodya, M.K.K, Kamalasena, B.D.T.M, Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2021) The impact of quality of service on health tourists’ satisfaction of medical tourism in western province, Sri Lanka. Journal of Tourism Economics and Applied Research (JTEAR) Volume 5, Issue 2 (2021) (Online publication)

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. Sellahewa, W.N, (2022). Book Review: Tourism Management, Marketing, and Development edited by Mariani, M. M., Czakon, W., Buhalis, D., & Vitouladiti, O. (Palgrave Macmillan; 1st Edition (2016); Pages: 291). South Asian Journal of Tourism and Hospitality (SAJTH) Volume 2, Issue 2, pp. 100-109. https://www.sab.ac.lk/sajth

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. (2022) Domestic Millennial Tourists’ Attitudes & Beliefs Towards Green Hotels Practices of Green Certified Hotels in Sri Lanka. Nāgānanda International Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, Volume 3, Issue 2 pp16-36

Arachchi, R.S.S.W. Nanayakkara, S.N, (2022). Study on The Potential of Developing Medical Tourism in Sri Lanka with Special Reference to the Major Private Hospitals in Sri Lanka. Nāgānanda International Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, Volume 4, Issue 2 pp10-25

Management Committee member and Consultant for regulatory advice, curriculum development and quality parameters development of the Premier Ceylon Institute of Tourism and Management Studies- 2018.

Management Committee member and Consultant for the Agro-Eco-Tourism project of Moragahakanda- Different Discovery Development Private Limited- 2020/2021.

Member and a resource person of the Community-Based Homestay Tourism Task Force of Southern Province- 2020

An editorial member of the Status Quo Report on Sustainable Tourism in Sri Lanka and the South Asia Comparative Status Quo Report of CESTour Erasmus + project.

Consultant and editorial member of the Desk Research Report and Destination and Risk Resilience Manual prepared by the Sustainable Tourism Service (Pvt) Ltd.- Sri Lanka as a part of a collaborative project that aims to build destination resilience and promote sustainable development in emerging economies, funded by DKKV a Futouris with support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Senior Consultant- Faculty of Management BSc (Hons) in International Hospitality and Tourism degree programme developer at KAATSU University (KIU), Battaramulla, Sri Lanka- 2023.

Project Consultant- Sri Lanka-Less Travelled (SLLT) project implemented by Chrysalis with the financial aid of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka by developing five community-based eco-tourism model sites, capacitating women and youth as nature-based tour/travel companions and supporting the growth of tourism-based self-employments and women-led eco-tourism-based enterprises in Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts - 2023