Peer-reviewed studies, founding-phase reports and in-depth analysis of the Pekoe Trail — Sri Lanka’s first long-distance hiking trail — covering its development, visitor demand, community impact and governance.
Last updated · 11 November 2026
Academic Research
Peer-reviewed scholarship examining the Pekoe Trail.
Positioning a trekking trail as a slow tourism experience: the case of Pekoe Trail, Sri LankaOpen access
The first peer-reviewed journal article focused on the Pekoe Trail, exploring how the route can be positioned and managed as a slow-tourism experience.
Preprints & working papers
The items below are preprints that have not been peer-reviewed, and their authorship and affiliations are unconfirmed. They are listed for reference and completeness.
Reports & Case Studies
Produced during the trail’s founding phase under the EU- and USAID-funded Tourism Resilience Project, implemented by IESC.
The Pekoe Trail: A Case Study on Sustainable Product Development in Tourism
How the trail was created as a test of Sri Lanka’s “signature experiences” strategy, developed in partnership with 22 estate companies, 5 government agencies and 80 communities.
The Pekoe Trail – Demand-Driven Tourism Research Study 2023
A hiker-demand forecast for the trail, projecting up to 100,000 hikers a year by 2028 under the optimistic scenario.
Regulatory and Governance Framework for the Management of the Pekoe Trail
Proposes a governance model for the trail — a dedicated management organisation and a visitor-pass system — and notes that around 80% of the route crosses working tea estates.
Further Reading
Long-form features and analysis about the trail and the communities along it.
- Exploring the Hidden Gems of Rural Sri LankaColumbia Magazine, Columbia University — feature
- The Pekoe Trail: A Captivating Journey Through Sri Lanka’s Tea CountryInternational Development Arena — development-sector article
- Designing the Pekoe Trail: Lessons Learnt about Tourism, Communities and SustainabilityDaily Mirror — analysis
- Hike Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail — biodiversity projectiNaturalist — citizen-science wildlife records
- The Pekoe Trail: Who Owns a Path That Nobody Owns?Financial Chronicle — governance analysis
- The Pekoe Trail Is a National Treasure. So Who Actually Controls It?Financial Chronicle — governance analysis
- Request for Proposals: Demand-Driven Tourism Research Study for the Pekoe TrailDevex — tender notice behind the 2023 demand study (background)
Are you researching the Pekoe Trail? If you have published or forthcoming work on the trail, we would love to hear from you — write to [email protected].
