Bentota, a city on Sri Lanka’s southern coastline, is renowned for its golden sand beaches, water sports opportunities, cascading rivers, and pristine biodiversity and natural ecosystems such as mangrove forests. As one of the oldest tourist destinations in the country, Bentota has remained a favourite among tourists for decades. The tourism industry in Bentota supports local communities by generating employment opportunities, including for women and youth, and playing an important role in poverty alleviation. 

The actors involved in this sector—hotels, tour operators, local businesses, and artisans—have the potential to create robust economic opportunities and forge sectoral linkages within the locality. For example, by supplying fresh produce to hotels and restaurants, local farmers enhance tourists' dining experiences, support the agricultural community, reduce carbon emissions through decreased food transportation, and promote a sustainable, climate-friendly farm-to-table approach. Bentota's charm lies not just in its beauty but in its potential to lead in ethical, climate-friendly, and sustainable tourism. By capitalising on its abundant natural resources, Bentota can enhance its ecotourism offerings and promote sustainable practices that preserve its stunning landscapes for future generations.

Local government authorities can play an essential role in promoting ethical, climate-friendly, and sustainable elements in the tourism sector and mainstream comprehensive risk management and resilience-building. For example, the Divisional Secretariat (DS) office is responsible for providing emergency relief to families during extreme climate events, recommending financial relief for families after assessing losses and damages, implementing emergency preparedness plans specific to the area, and raising public awareness.

As Bentota adjusts to the demands of the tourism industry, insights from the local government’s experiences can be invaluable to identify opportunities to enhance collaboration, foster innovation, and promote coherence among stakeholders in the tourism sector. Consequently, this paves the way for developing more ethical, environmentally conscious, and sustainable tourism practices and business models in the area. 

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Key elements and considerations:

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Climate impacts on the tourism industry in Bentota: Climate change is already affecting tourism sector value chains, from supply chains to tourism products and experiences. In Bentota, several climate change impacts affect the tourism industry, including flooding in river valleys, changing monsoon season, cyclones and extreme rain, heat waves, and coastal erosion.

Coordination of climate and disaster relief:  Bentota DS division is divided into 51 GN divisions. Each GN officer is responsible for the continuous monitoring of climate induced disasters. technical officers attached to the DS office coordinate disaster relief support, which is implemented through government-level disaster relief services and aid programmes . 

Mitigation and adaptation actions conducted by local government authorities: Activities conducted by the Bentota DS office include effective waste management practices that ensure waste is collected, processed, and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, ecosystem restoration, and monitoring and regulation of activities such as sand mining and improper discharge of chemicals that contribute to climate change. 

Capacity-building efforts: The DS office focuses on capacity-building for natural disasters such as tsunamis as well as emergency relief activities. The entrepreneurship support arm offers micro-entrepreneurs in Bentota opportunities such as marketplaces and workshops to assist their entrepreneurial efforts. The weekly market takes place at the premises of the Bentota DS office, offering micro-entrepreneurs direct market access, enabling them to showcase and commercialise their products to a diverse customer base, including a significant number of tourists. 

Identifying and addressing the needs of the sector: The tourism sector in Bentota requires collective action supported by various stakeholders to build long-term resilience and shift towards sustainability. Priorities include capacity-building, improving risk management in the tourism industry, expanding cross-sector collaborations, and conservation of the natural environment and resources. The table below clusters needs shared by participants at a workshop hosted by SLYCAN Trust in November 2023:

This blog article is partially based on inputs from development, social security, environment, and Grama Niladhari officers attached to the Divisional Secretariat of Bentota, Sri Lanka, during a local-level workshop on climate and disaster risk management and finance in the tourism sector, which was organised by SLYCAN Trust on November 27th, 2023. SLYCAN Trust expresses its gratitude and recognises the valuable contributions of participants from Bentota DS division. SLYCAN Trust is committed to connecting stakeholders in Bentota’s tourism sector to the multi-actor partnership for climate and disaster risk management and finance in Sri Lanka.

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Conclusions:

A just transition of the tourism industry requires long-term planning and the implementation of commitments and actions that prioritise both communities and the natural environment. To achieve this, several key elements can be emphasised:

1. Empowering Local Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs in Bentota have the potential to drive sustainable tourism by adopting eco-friendly practices, such as using renewable energy sources, minimising waste, and promoting locally sourced products. These actions not only attract environmentally conscious travellers but also help preserve cultural heritage and reduce the carbon footprint of their operations.
2. Creating an Enabling Environment: Local government authorities and stakeholders can collaborate to support climate-friendly, sustainable, and resilient entrepreneurship in the tourism sector by organising capacity-building programs, facilitating access to finance for green initiatives, and promoting policies that encourage sustainable business practices.
3. Enhancing Financial Support: Financial institutions and government programs should offer tailored financial products, such as low-interest loans and grants for sustainable tourism projects. Additionally, incorporating climate risk assessments and disaster risk management strategies, such as insurance, into business planning can help businesses prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change, ensuring their long-term viability.