Global Tourism Resilience Day 2025: Building a Stronger Tourism Sector in Sri Lanka with DRR

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry continues to evolve with a focus on preparedness, sustainability, and recovery. On Global Tourism Resilience Day 2025, we highlight the critical need for resilience in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. As we navigate an era of increasing challenges, building disaster-ready tourism is more important than ever.

A-PAD Sri Lanka has implemented projects aimed at strengthening disaster resilience within the tourism sector, including hotel preparedness initiatives and empowering local businesses with crisis recovery training.

Strengthening Hotel Preparedness

In collaboration with Aitken Spence, we’ve significantly enhanced disaster preparedness across the hospitality sector. A-PAD SL conducted disaster and emergency planning awareness programs at two key Aitken Spence locations; Turyaa Kalutara and Heritance Kandalama. These sessions equipped hotel staff with essential knowledge on disaster risk reduction, guest and employee safety, emergency response planning, and business continuity strategies.

Empowering Tourism MSMEs

One of our proudest achievements has been the training of over 200 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Southern Province. Partnering with UNDP and CBi, we’ve provided businesses with essential skills in sustainability and crisis recovery, helping them to stay resilient during times of adversity and build a sustainable future.

These past projects reflect our commitment to a resilient tourism sector – one that not only supports the economy but also strengthens local communities and ensures a safer environment for both tourists and citizens. As we move forward, we continue to focus on building a disaster-resilient tourism sector that will help maintain Sri Lanka’s position as a safe, welcoming, and thriving destination for travelers around the world. Let’s keep working together for a brighter, more resilient future!