Urban and Wellness Tourism Development Using the Public Open Spaces in Colombo Region: A GIS-Based Assessment

Abstract Urban and wellness tourism have emerged as effective economic and recreational activities in modern cities. Despite the growing interest in urban tourism development, there is a lack of comprehensive studies in Sri Lanka that integrate public open spaces, tourism, and spatial modeling. Colombo, the commercial capital and most densely populated city in Sri Lanka, serves as the focus of this research due to its prominence as a tourism hub. This study aims to assess the spatial suitability of public open spaces for urban and wellness tourism in Colombo using the Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) method. Ten key criteria were identified through literature review, fieldwork, and a questionnaire survey. A suitability analysis was conducted using the “Weighted Overlay” tool in ArcGIS 10.1 to identify potential areas for tourism-focused public spaces. Findings reveal that existing public open spaces in Colombo do not meet the Urban Development Authority’s standard of 0.12 hectares per 1,000 residents. Consequently, new suitable locations for public open spaces were identified and classified into four categories: High, Moderate, Low, and Very Low suitability. Areas classified as “High” are considered most appropriate for developing public spaces for tourism and wellness purposes. This study emphasizes the value of GIS-based site suitability analysis in urban planning and supports the strategic development of urban and wellness tourism in Colombo. The proposed locations, if developed, can significantly enhance mental, physical, and social well-being while improving the city’s overall quality of life and tourism potential.