Prof. (Dr.) Athula Gnanapala

Prof. (Dr.) Athula Gnanapala is a distinguished Professor of Tourism Management associated with the Department of Tourism Management at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL). Currently, he is serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies at SUSL. He has also served as the acting Vice-Chancellor of SUSL for nearly six months. Additionally, he has previously held the positions of Head of the Department of Tourism Management and Programme Coordinator for the MSc. in Ayurvedic Hospital Management degree programme.

In 1997, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism Management from Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Subsequently, in 2003, he obtained a Master of Science degree in Management from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Later, in 2011, he completed his Doctoral degree in Tourism Management at the School of Business at Xiamen University, P.R. China.

Prof. Gnanapala currently serves as the co-editor-in-chief of the South Asian Journal of Tourism and Hospitality. He has an impressive record of research publications, including 25 books and book chapters, over 50 articles in refereed and indexed journals, and more than 100 presentations at international conferences. He is highly regarded in his field, serving as a reviewer for nationally and internationally recognized academic journals, as well as a consultant, editorial member, and scientific committee member. Additionally, Prof. Gnanapala provides his service as a supervisor and examiner for postgraduate and Ph.D. students.

Prof. Gnanapala is an active member of various professional and academic bodies in Sri Lanka and abroad. He is a member of the Board of Study of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), as well as the Vice President of the Professional Business Coaches Association - Sri Lanka (PBCA). He is also the Country Coordinator for the CESTour project of the European Union, as well as the GIS-based Education Cooperation Project for Mountain Disaster Resilience Improvement in South Asia. In addition, he serves as the Chairman of the Subject Benchmarks Preparation Committee (Tourism and Hospitality) of the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka.

According to the criteria set by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka, Prof. Gnanapala is classified as a Tier 4* researcher. His academic publications have received 1200+ citations, with an h-index of 18 and an i10-index of 22.

Administrative Positions

Vice-Chancellor

1. Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka from May 2020 to November 2020.

Dean

1. Dean, Faculty of Management Studies from 11.09.2017 to date (reappointed for the third consecutive)

Head

1. Head, Dept. of Tourism Management from 14.09.2013 to 10.09.2017

2. Head, Dept. of Tourism Management from 16.01.2007 to 30.08.2007

Postgraduate Courses

1. Programme Coordinator of the M.Sc. Ayurvedic Hospital Management degree programme from 01.05.2006 to 30.08.2007

2. Programme Coordinator of the M.Sc. Ayurvedic Hospital Management degree programme from 02.01.2012 to 31.12.2017.

1. Country Coordinator, CESTour Project of the Erasmus+ (EU)

2. Vice President, Professional Business Coachers Association

3. A member of the Board of Study (BOS) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) from 2021/2022

Research Papers

1. Gamage T.C., Gnanapala, A. & Ashill, N.J. (2023). Understanding Social Customer Relationship Management Adoption: Qualitative Insight, Journal of Strategic Marketing, 31(2), 421-445. DOI: 10.1080/0965254X.2021.1923056
2. Sandaruwani, R.C. & Gnanapala, A.C. (2021). Challenges and Issues Confronting Sri Lanka in Museum Tourism Development. Curator: The Museum Journal, 64 (4), 751-778, doi.org/10.1111/cura.12445
3. Arachchi, R.S.S.W. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C (2020). Impact of COVID-19 and the Future of Tourism Employments in Sri Lanka: A Route to Recovery and Resilience. Journal of Management and Tourism Research Special Issue (2020) 15-26.
4. Arachchi, R.S.S.W. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C (2020). COVID-19 and Tourism Crisis and Challenges of Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka. Rebuilding Tourism and Hospitality Sectors, Bharti Publications, India.
5. Wijesundara, S.R. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2020). Perceived Tourist Harassment in Tourist Destinations: A Study of Southern Coastal Belt of Sri Lanka. Global Challenges and Strategic Disruptors in Asian Businesses and Economies: IGI Global.
6. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I., Gnanapala, A., and Aslam, M. (2005). Tourism and its Implications for Management in Ruhuna National Park (Yala), Sri Lanka. Tourism Management, 26 (5): 733-742.
7. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Post-Conflict Tourism Development in Sri Lanka: Implications for Building Resilience. Current Issues in Tourism. 1-18.
8. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I., Gnanapala, A. (2016). Whale Watching in Sri Lanka: Perception of Sustainability. Tourism Management Perspective, 18, 125 - 133.
9. Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Food wastage and its impacts on sustainable business operations: a study on Sri Lankan Tourist Hotels. Procedia Food Science 6, 133 – 135.
10. Gnanapala W.K.A.C. (2014). Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction Related to the Tourist Hotel Industry in Sri Lanka. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 2(7), 265-278.
11. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Tourists Perception and Satisfaction: Implications for Destination Management. American Journal of Marketing Research, 1(1), 7-19.
12. Pathirana, D.P.U.T. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2015). Tourist Harassment at Cultural Sites in Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 2, 42 - 56. 
13. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2012). Destination Satisfaction and Behavioral Intentions of the Tourists: A Study on Sri Lanka. Wayamba Journal of Management, 3(1), 37-55.
14. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Wijesundara, N. (2012). Effective Marketing Practices for Sport Tourism: A Critique. Journal of Vishranthi, 2(2), 7 - 14.
15. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Tourism in Developing Countries: Literacy Evidences. Journal of World Development Studies, 1(2), 1-18.
16. Namal, C.N.R. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Difficulties and Challenges Associated with The Development of Homestay Tourism in Sri Lanka Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 90 - 104. 
17. Jayasinghe M.K.D., Gnanapala W.K.A.C., & Sandaruwani J.A.R.C. (2015). Factors Affecting Tourists' Perception and Satisfaction in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, 2, 1-15.
18. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. (2016). Socio-economic Impacts of Tourism Development and Their Implications on Local Communities. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 2(5), 59-67.
19. Kovilage, M.P. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Intention of Foreign Tourists to Stay in Eco-Certified Accommodation: With Special Reference to Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 74 - 89.
20. Ekanayake, I.A. & Gnanapala, W.K. A.C. (2016). Travel Experiences and Behavioural Intentions of the Tourists: A Study on Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 50 - 61.
21. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C & Karunathilaka, T.P. (2016). Community Perception on Tourism Development and its Impacts: A Study on Passikudha, Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 64 - 78.
22. Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). The Role of Tourist Guides and their Impacts on Sustainable Tourism Development: A Critique on Sri Lanka. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 3, 62 - 73.
23. Sathiyaseelan, T. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Service Quality and Patients’ Satisfaction on Ayurvedic Health Services. American Journal of Marketing Research, 1(3), 158-166.
24. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2012). Travel Motivations and Destination Selection: A Critique. International Journal of Research in Computer Application & Management, 2(1), 49-53.
25. Nayomi, G. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Socio-Economic Impacts on Local Community through Tourism Development with Special Reference to Heritance Kandalama. Tourism, Leisure and Global Change, 2, 57 - 73.
26. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Sandaruwani, J.A.R.C. (2016). Impacts of Tourism Development in Cultural and Heritage Sites: An Empirical Investigation. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 2(6), 68-78.

1. Research Project on “Tourism in Rural Poverty Alleviation through Socio-Cultural and Countryside Capitalization” funded by the AHEAD Development Oriented Research Grants, (DOR Grants), Faculty of Management Studies, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

2. CESTour (Centers of Excellence in Sustainable Tourism to Boost Economic Development and Enhance University-Business Cooperation in Southern Asia) project funded by the Erasmus+ EU.

3. GIS-based Education Cooperation Project for Mountain Disaster Resilience Improvement in South Asia funded by Ministry of Science & Technology, P.R. China.

4. “The Belt and Road” China, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka Corridor Tourism Resilience Improvement funded by Ministry of Science & Technology, P.R. China.

Books

1. Cooper, M., Gnanapala, A., Aslam, M.S.M., & Rathnayake, R. (2023). The Emergence and Future of Health Tourism in the Asia Pacific Region. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
2. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Travel Motives, Perception & Satisfaction. Saarbrücken: Scholars Press. ISBN: 978-3-639-76902-9
3. Aslam, A., Cooper, J.M., Gnanapala, A., & Gamage, C. (2019). Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
4. Ratnayake, K.M.M.I. and Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2000). Sri Lanka: Sabaragamuwa Province Insight Guide. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.

Book Chapters

1. Blended Learning in Smart Education, A. Chowdhury & Chowdhury (2024), MSM Aslam & A. Gnanapala, Aspire to Innovate (Publisher) Ensuring an Exclusive Experiential Learning in the Blended Mode. 223 – 246.

2. Gamage, T.C. and Gnanapala, A. (2023), "Unleashing Business Model Innovation in the Era of Digital Disruption: A Multiple Case Study Analysis", Saini, A. and Garg, V. (Ed.) Transformation for Sustainable Business and Management Practices: Exploring the Spectrum of Industry 5.0, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 155-173. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-277-520231012.

3. Gnanapala, A. & Arachchi, R. (2020). “Covid-19 and Tourism Crisis and Challenges of Tourism Industry in Sri Lanka”, Zutshi, V., Singh, A. K., Chowdhary, M.P.T., & Lakhwat, P. (Ed.) Rebuilding Tourism and Hospitality Sectors: COVID-19 Crisis, Policy Solutions and the Way Forward, Bharti Publications, New Delhi.

4. Sandaruwani, J. & Gnanapala, A. (2022). “Museum Visitor Experience in Sri Lanka (Special Reference to The Department of National Museums)”, Kumar, N., Sousa, B.B., & Sharma, S. (Ed.) Tourist Behavior: Past, Present, and Future, Apple Academic Press.

5. Seram, D.S. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Work Performance in the Hotel Industry of Sri Lanka. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

6. Charika, K.M.R. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Unplanned Tourism Development on Tourists’ Satisfaction with Special Reference to Negombo, Sri Lanka. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

7. Senevirathne, M.P.D.R.S. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Behavioral Characteristics of Solo Female Travellers in Sri Lanka. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

8. Dinusha, H. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2019). Interpretation Quality of Tourist Guides and it’s Impacts on Tourists’ Satisfaction in Round Tours. In A. Gnanapala, M. Aslam, M., Cooper, J.M. & C. Gamage (Ed.), Managerial Dilemmas in Developing Countries: Business, Marketing, Finance and Tourism. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN (10): 1-5275-3031-0.

9. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Peace Marketing and Tourism Development: Empirical Evidences from Sri Lanka. In A. Nedelea & M. Nedelea (Eds), Peace Marketing, Bucureşti: Editura Universitară. ISBN 978-606-28-0469-5.

10. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2011). Strategy and Strategy Formulation: A Critique. In H.M. Bandara & K.R.H.L. Gunasekara (Ed.), Essays in Social Sciences, Colombo: S. Godage & Brothers. ISBN: 978-955-30- 3226-3.

11. Buultjens, J., Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. & Ratnayake, I. (2015). Sri Lanka and Tourism: The Need for a Green Economy Approach. In M. V. Reddy & K. Wilkes (Ed.), Tourism in the Green Economy, London Routledge. ISBN: 978041570921

12. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, I. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). From Tsunami to Recovery: The Resilience of the Sri Lankan Tourism Industry. In B.W. Ritchie and K. Campiranon (Ed.), Tourism Crisis and Disaster Management in the Asia-Pacific. Oxfordshire: CBAI. ISBN: 9781780643250.

13. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Destination Marketing Approaches for Wildlife Tourism. In J. K. Fatima (Eds), Wilderness of Wildlife Tourism. Waretown, NJ: Apple Academic Press. ISBN 9781771884815. 

14. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, R., & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Managing Wildlife Tourism in Sri Lanka: Opportunities and Challenges. In J. K. Fatima (Eds), Wilderness of Wildlife Tourism. Waretown, NJ: Apple Academic Press. ISBN 9781771884815

15. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2015). Strategic Planning and Management in Developing Countries: Issues and Challenges. In H. M. Bandara (Ed.), Policy Issues and Development, Nugegoda: A Stamford Lake Publications. ISBN 978-955-658-413-4

16. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Stakeholder Conflicts in Tourism: A Study of Hoteliers and Travel Agents in Sri Lanka. In Sustainable Tourism in the Global South; Eds. M. Aslam, M.J.M. Cooper, A. A. Lew, Nor’ain Othman, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 290 - 307. ISBN- 1443888184, 978-1-4438-8818-9

17. Samarathunga, W.H.M.S. & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2016). Impact of All-inclusive Tour Packages with special reference to Bentota Tourist Resort. In Sustainable Tourism in the Global South; Eds. M. Aslam, M.J.M. Cooper, A. A. Lew, Nor’ain Othman, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p.308-325. ISBN-1443888184, 978-1-4438-8818-9.

18. Buultjens, J., Ratnayake, R., & Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2017). Sri Lankan tourism development and implications for resilience. In R. Butler (Eds), Tourism and Resilience. Oxfordshire: CABI. ISBN-13: 978-1780648330, ISBN-10: 1780648332.

19. Gnanapala, W.K.A.C. (2017). Public relations in hospitality marketing. In D. Gursoy (Eds), Routledge Handbook of Hospitality Marketing. London: Taylor & Francis Ltd. ISBN10: 1138214663, ISBN13: 9781138214668.

1. Co-editor in Chief - South Asian Journal of Tourism & Hospitality (SAJTH)

2. Editor in Chief of the “Udyama” Management Digest Volume I of Issue I (2021) publish by the Faculty of Management Studies of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

3. Editor in Chief of the Tourism Editor in Chief of Tourism In Paradise (TIP) Magazine Volume I and II publish by the Dept. of Tourism Management, Faculty of Management Studies of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.