Tourism is one of Sri Lanka’s most important economic sectors, generating foreign exchange, employment, and opportunities for small and medium enterprises across the country. In recent years, the industry has shown resilience in the face of multiple shocks, including the Easter Sunday attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic crisis, with tourist arrivals exceeding two million in 2024. However, this resilience is increasingly tested by the escalating impacts of climate change.

The sector is inherently dependent on environmental quality and ecosystem services, making it highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards and gradual climatic changes. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, heat waves, floods, droughts, and biodiversity loss directly threaten tourism infrastructure, cultural heritage, and nature-based attractions, while also increasing risks to community health and wellbeing. At the same time, the tourism industry itself contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, creating an urgent need to align recovery and growth with low-carbon, climate-resilient development pathways.

This scoping paper explores the intersections of climate change and tourism in Sri Lanka, mapping out key climate risks, observed and projected impacts, and the existing measures that aim to mitigate these risks. It highlights the importance of climate risk management and adaptation strategies such as resilient infrastructure, sustainable practices, insurance mechanisms, and inclusive policies, to safeguard the sector’s long-term sustainability. By identifying gaps and opportunities, the paper seeks to inform policy, planning, and investment towards building a climate-resilient tourism sector that supports sustainable development and the livelihoods it underpins.