By: Staff Writer
July 24, Colombo (LNW): As Sri Lanka continues to rebuild its economy amid mounting climate threats, experts emphasize the urgent need to prioritize nature tourism and environmental conservation as strategic economic pillars.
Despite the country’s rich biodiversity and natural wonders—from rainforests and wildlife parks to coral reefs and coastal ecosystems—nature-based tourism remains largely untapped, accounting for only a fraction of total tourist arrivals.
According to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority data, wildlife and eco-tourism draw just 12-15% of visitors annually, in contrast to cultural and beach tourism, which dominate. This underutilization presents a major missed opportunity, particularly when global demand for sustainable travel is steadily rising.
In this context, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called on Sri Lanka to treat nature as vital economic capital and adopt integrated, sustainable approaches to tourism and climate finance.
Speaking at the National Sustainable Tourism Certification (NSTC) awards, UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota urged the country to accelerate investments in nature-based solutions—not just as an environmental obligation, but as a strategic economic move.
“Natural resources hold immense potential for Sri Lanka’s sustainable economic development. Protecting biodiversity is not just environmentally responsible, it is economically strategic,” Kubota stated.
She stressed that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally requires an annual investment increase of $1.5 trillion. For Sri Lanka, this equates to securing 12.5% of its GDP annually until 2030.
The UNDP is currently working with the Government to assess investment needs and develop innovative financing tools to meet Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Kubota also acknowledged the paradox of tourism being a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions—especially through transportation—while highlighting its potential as a catalyst for a green economic transition.
She emphasized the importance of sustainable mobility solutions, such as efficient public transport, electric vehicles, and a robust charging infrastructure, to reduce the carbon footprint of the tourism sector.
“Sustainable tourism is not a buzzword. To position Sri Lanka as a sustainable and resilient tourist destination, collaboration is key. Ministries, local communities, and the private sector must co-create future-focused strategies that go beyond slogans and lead to meaningful change,” she urged.
While praising Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts in biodiversity protection and private sector engagement, Kubota stressed that reaching climate and development goals demands structural reforms and cross-sectoral partnerships.
“As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, now is the time to reaffirm our climate ambition. Tourism must evolve into a force for good—enabling visitors to experience Sri Lanka’s beauty without damaging it, while ensuring that local communities thrive,” she concluded. With global trends shifting toward sustainable travel, Sri Lanka has both the natural assets and the economic incentive to make nature tourism a national priority—one that can deliver long-term growth, resilience, and environmental preservation.
