As part of the opening ceremony of the 03rd International Conference on University–Industry Collaborations for Sustainable Development (ICSD 2026), the thematic session on “Tourism in a Changing Climate – Shaping Climate-Resilient Tourism in Sri Lanka” brought together a diverse panel of experts representing academia, industry, and sustainability-focused organizations.

The session featured Professor Sarath Kotagama (Emeritus Professor, University of Colombo), Thushni De Silva (Director, Magical Isle Holdings), Ashan Fernando (Head of Business Development, And Beyond Travel), Sashika Kaluwaheva (Manager – Sustainability, Jetwing Hotels), and Maxime Wickramasinghe (Director – Marketing & Business Development, Thema Collection). Each speaker contributed unique insights reflecting their professional domains, creating a well-rounded and interdisciplinary dialogue.

Discussions centered on the urgent need for climate-resilient tourism practices in Sri Lanka. Professor Kotagama emphasized the importance of scientific accuracy and responsible interpretation of environmental changes, cautioning against oversimplification of climate-related narratives. Thushni De Silva highlighted the role of experience design, stressing that tourism offerings must be sensitive to ecological variations and local contexts to avoid unintended environmental harm.

Ashan Fernando brought attention to the need for more meaningful and authentic tourism experiences, moving beyond standardized offerings to create deeper cultural engagement. Sashika Kaluwaheva discussed how growing environmental awareness among travelers is influencing decision-making, urging the industry to adapt to more sustainability-conscious expectations.

Complementing these perspectives, Maxime Wickramasinghe addressed the importance of rethinking traditional tourism models, particularly in reducing environmental pressure and embracing regenerative tourism approaches.

Overall, the panel discussion set a strong tone for the conference by highlighting that building resilience in tourism requires collaboration between academia and industry, data-driven decision-making, and a shared commitment to sustainability. It reinforced the conference’s core objective of fostering partnerships that address real-world challenges through innovation and knowledge exchange.