The “Serendipity Knowledge Program” (SKOP) is ADB’s knowledge program dedicated to Sri Lanka, designed to respond effectively to the country’s needs in line with the vision of ADB as a knowledge solutions bank. SKOP seeks to share knowledge on issues relevant to Sri Lanka and facilitate discussion among stakeholders.

The latest event under SKOP was on Tourism and Biodiversity Conservation. Sri Lanka is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot. The tourism sector is only partially capitalizing on this diverse resource base and the wildlife and nature-based visitor product offered has not capitalized on the potential that exists. Substantial increases in revenue for the country are possible by following international best practices in wildlife and nature-based tourism. At the same time, the private sector can become a strong contributor to effective conservation efforts across the protected area system in Sri Lanka through meaningful partnerships with relevant state departments.

The SKOP event introduced options in wildlife and nature-based tourism in Africa based on the success stories of the Wilderness Group from South Africa through a keynote address and discussed the potential of adapting such an approach to Sri Lanka to support a sustainable and resilient tourism sector. Informative videos supported the discussions.

The event was opened by the Director General, South Asia Department, ADB, sharing his views and insights on Tourism Development and Biodiversity Conservation, and ADB’s role in supporting the reforms to be undertaken in the sector. This was followed by the keynote address and an expert panel discussion on the potential for higher-value tourism in Sri Lanka and the required reforms and strategies to foster a sustainable and resilient tourism and biodiversity sector.

This hybrid event was attended by stakeholders including government officials, private sector representatives, think tanks, development partners, civil society, and ADB staff. A question and answer session provided everybody with an opportunity to engage with the expert panel.