The Impact of Climate Change on Sri Lanka's Tourism: Challenges and Adaptations

In 2023, Sri Lanka welcomed 1,487,303 international tourists, a remarkable 106.5% increase from the previous year. This surge generated approximately 2.07 billion USD in foreign exchange earnings, with a direct contribution to GDP of 2.5%. The sector also supported total employment of 429,641 individuals, including 204,591 in direct employment. This growth reflects key improvements such as enhanced safety and political stability, effective marketing campaigns, improved flight connectivity, strategic investments in tourism infrastructure, and growing international recognition. These advancements signal the tourism sector’s strong recovery and highlight its potential for continued expansion.Read here

Despite these positive developments, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry faces increasing challenges due to the impacts of climate change. Celebrated for its stunning beaches, lush landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, Sri Lanka has long been a global tourism hotspot. However, escalating climate-related threats are reshaping the contours of this vital industry. Ranked 124th in the Climate Vulnerability Index based on the ND-GAIN Index (2021), the nation must navigate rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and environmental degradation while sustaining its appeal as a premier travel destination. Read here

Major Climate-Related Challenges

Climate change manifests in Sri Lanka through rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and environmental degradation. Coastal areas, a major draw for tourists, are experiencing sea-level rise, increased erosion, and coral reef degradation. Inland destinations, such as Nuwara Eliya, face altered monsoon patterns and extreme weather events, disrupting travel plans and damaging infrastructure. These changes pose significant threats to an industry that contributes approximately 10% to the country’s GDP and directly employs over 250,000 individuals. Read here and here

Major climate-related incidents which affected Sri Lanka’s tourism industry (2000-2020).

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami; While not directly linked to climate change, the tsunami devastated coastal areas, destroying infrastructure and tourism hotspots. Jayme DeLoss from Colorado State University says Climate change could trigger more earthquakes. Read here
Coral Bleaching: Due to rising sea temperatures, extensive coral bleaching has been reported in marine biodiversity hotspots like the coral reefs in Hikkaduwa and Pigeon Island. These reefs are major attractions for snorkeling and diving, and their degradation has diminished the appeal of these destinations. Read here , here and here
Frequent Flooding: Monsoon-related flooding has become more intense and unpredictable, affecting popular tourist cities such as Colombo and Galle. In 2017, severe flooding displaced thousands and disrupted tourist operations across the southern and western regions. See the occurrence of flooding during the period 1974-2008 here. Also read here
Extended Droughts: Prolonged droughts, particularly in the dry zones like the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura), have led to water shortages, affecting the appeal of these historic sites and eco-tourism destinations. Read here
Cyclone Impacts : Cyclones, such as Cyclone Roanu in 2016, caused extensive damage to coastal areas, including beaches, resorts, and fishing villages, which are central to the tourism economy. Read here
Coastal Erosion: Accelerated by rising sea levels, coastal erosion has damaged infrastructure, including beachfront hotels and roads, in key areas like Negombo and Bentota. This has reduced the availability of prime coastal property for tourism. Read here
Landslides in Hill Country: Heavy rainfall events, particularly during the southwest monsoon, have triggered devastating landslides in the central highlands (e.g., Nuwara Eliya, Ella, and Kandy). These areas are popular for their tea plantations and scenic train rides, but landslides have periodically disrupted transport and posed safety concerns. Read here and here
Impact on Wildlife Tourism: The changing climate has altered the migration patterns and availability of wildlife in national parks like Yala and Udawalawe, affecting safari tourism. For example, prolonged droughts have impacted water availability in parks, reducing animal sightings. Read here
Sea-Level Rise Threats: Coastal regions, including renowned beaches like Unawatuna and Mirissa, are under threat from sea-level rise, storm surges, and saltwater intrusion, gradually diminishing their allure for international travelers. Read here

Map showing areas of disturbance and land use land cover change (LULCC) from 1993 to 2018, alongside the distribution of protected areas and forest reserves across Sri Lanka, highlighting the spatial distribution of major land cover changes and disturbances over the past 25 years. Source: Chithrangani WM Rathnayake

Climate 08 00051 g006 — Occurrences of critically endangered birds (GBIF data as of September 21, 2019) overlaid on **projected climate suitability for invasive alien plant species under current climate and future** **climate** (MIROC5 RCP 4.5 and 8.5) scenarios for 2050. Source: Champika S. Kariyawasam

Fig. 3 — Vulnerability index map of Sri Lanka’s coastline, illustrating the percentage of vulnerable (red) and less vulnerable (blue) areas based on distances of 100, 300, 500, 1000, and 2000 meters from the shoreline. Local administrative boundaries are depicted by polygons within the map. Source: Behara Satyanarayana

(a) Satellite image of Galle, and (b) risk assessment map of the area — Projected sea level rise risk for: Left – Matara Municipal Area with (a) Satellite image of Matara and (b) Risk assessment map; Right – Galle Municipal Area with (a) Satellite image of Galle and (b) Risk assessment map illustrating vulnerable zones. Source: *Palamakumbure, et al. (2020)*

Economic Impacts

Tourist Arrivals Growth Change -2001 to 2023. Source: Annual Statistical Report-2023, SLTDA

“On average, Sri Lanka experiences US$313 million in annual disaster losses related to housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and relief,” said the World Bank. Read here

Therefore, the combined effects of these direct and indirect incidents have led to:

Decreased tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings.

Significant restoration costs for damaged infrastructure and ecosystems.

Job losses and supply chain disruptions in tourism-dependent regions. Read here and here

Impact of climate change on tourism activities in Nuwara Eliya, assessed on a 5-point scale, highlighting varying effects across different sectors, with higher scores indicating greater climate-related challenges. Source: SLYCAN Trust

Adaptation and Resilience

Sri Lanka’s tourism stakeholders are adopting risk management strategies, including risk mapping, finance mechanisms for climate-resilient initiatives, and integrating climate considerations into policies. Efforts to promote sustainable tourism include eco-friendly accommodations, green building designs, and biodiversity conservation. These initiatives aim to attract environmentally conscious travelers while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

Sustainable Tourism: A Path Forward

Embracing sustainable tourism practices is seen as a competitive advantage. By focusing on conservation, offering authentic cultural experiences, and enhancing long-term resilience, Sri Lanka can redefine its tourism industry to align with global trends in responsible tourism.

Key Initiatives and Actions taken by Sri Lanka government.

1992: Ratification of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Read here and here
2008: National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Read here
2011: Sustainable Energy Authority Act
2012: National Climate Change Policy
2014: Climate Resilience Improvement Project (CRIP)
2016: Sri Lanka Climate Resilience Improvement Project
2017: Renewable Energy Development Program

Conclusion

Climate change is undeniably reshaping Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. By adopting sustainable practices, enhancing resilience, and leveraging global trends in responsible tourism, Sri Lanka can safeguard its natural and cultural heritage while ensuring long-term growth in the sector.

References

https://climatepromise.undp.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/sri-lanka#:~:text=Key%20highlights%20from%20the%20NDC&text=Despite%20its%20low%20carbon%20footprint,renewable%20energy%20in%20electricity%20generation.

https://sltda.gov.lk/en/tourism-industry-report

https://www.slycantrust.org/post/the-impact-of-climate-change-on-the-tourism-sector?utm

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-climate-trigger-earthquakes.html

https://www.un-spider.org/news-and-events/news/sri-lanka-landslides-and-torrential-rains-due-tropical-storm-roanu

https://www.unisdr.org/files/68230_10srilankadrmstatusreport.pdf

National Parks to be closed

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353863916_Case_Study_Sri_Lanka_Climate_change_challenges_for_the_Sri_Lankan_tourism_industry#:~:text=…,%2C%202020).%20…

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/9/1/27#B55-land-09-00027

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198941730121X

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341328844_Sea-level_inundation_and_risk_assessment_along_the_south_and_southwest_coasts_of_Sri_Lanka