The tourism sector in Sri Lanka is a significant contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), demonstrating consistent growth since 2009. Despite the economic benefits, this rapid expansion resulted in overcrowding and congestion of tourism-related infrastructure due to lack of systematic planning, risk analysis, and resilience-building measures, thereby posing threats to long-term sustainability of natural and historical sites, monuments, landscapes and public spaces. These challenges are exacerbated by the escalating frequency of climate-related disasters globally, resulting in disruptions to economic productivity.

Nuwara Eliya District is famous for being one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. The tourism sector here depends heavily on its unique colonial charm, extensive tea plantations, and cool climate, offering a crucial source of income for local communities. However, there is substantial evidence that climate change is already affecting the sensitive environmental systems of Nuwara Eliya District. In response, Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and National Adaptation Plan on Climate Change have also considered the tourism sector as a key sector in taking steps to build climate resilience.

As an effort to build resilience in the tourism sector, SLYCAN Trust is hosting this event with a focus on climate and disaster risk transfer and finance in the tourism sector in Nuwara Eliya District, to identify entry points to strengthen collaboration, joint innovation, and coherence amongst the tourism sector stakeholders and build capacities and technical expertise through collective engagement.

• Introductory session on SLYCAN Trust and Multi-actor partnership on Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and InsuResilience in the Tourism Sector
• Identifying entry points to strengthen collaboration, joint innovation, and coherence amongst the tourism sector stakeholders to catalyse support towards pathways of long-term resilience.
• Building capacities and technical expertise through collective engagement for  stakeholders and exchange of information.