The tourism sector in Sri Lanka is a significant contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), demonstrating steady growth since 2009. Despite the economic benefits, the sector faces challenges related to planning, risk management, and long-term sustainability which are further exacerbated by the impacts of climate change and disasters globally.

Galle district is home to some of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. The tourism sector in the district is heavily reliant on unique socio-cultural experiences, highly diverse marine ecosystems, and forestry landscapes, serving as a crucial source of income for local communities, particularly those in remote areas with limited economic opportunities. There is ample evidence of the impacts of climate change already affecting the environmental systems of Galle district. In response, Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka have also included tourism as a key sector for building climate resilience.

As an effort to strengthen climate and disaster risk management and finance 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 Galle 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.