Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad participated at the Inaugural Meeting of the Inter-Institutional Working Group on Tourism and Climate Action during the 26th General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization (UN WTO) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 7-11 November 2025.
Representing Sri Lanka at the Inter-Institutional Working Group on Tourism and Climate Action Ambassador Ameer Ajwad made the following remarks:
“It is an honor to address the inaugural meeting of the Inter-institutional Working Group on Tourism and Climate Action. We thank the UN Tourism Secretariat for the timely establishment of this critical platform. The challenge we face—ensuring the resilience of global tourism amid a rapidly changing climate— demands the collaborative focus that this Working Group provides.
For Sri Lanka, a beautiful island nation, tourism is a vital economic engine for growth, employment, and the preservation of our rich heritage. Yet, as an Island Nation, our coastlines, biodiversity, and
communities are acutely vulnerable to sea-level rise and extreme weather events. For us, climate action is not merely a policy choice; it is a necessity for sustainable economic development.
We are firmly committed to fostering a tourism sector that is green, sustainable, and inclusive. Our national strategy prioritizes eco-tourism, community-based development, and the protection of natural defenses like our vital mangrove ecosystems. We are ready to share our experience in building resilience within a vulnerable island context.
We welcome the immediate objective of electing the Chair and Vice-Chair, and we support the
establishment of an action-oriented work plan. In shaping this plan, Sri Lanka urges the Working Group to focus on areas that provide maximum, tangible benefit to the most vulnerable nation.
Excellencies, the future of the global tourism industry is inextricably linked to our planet’s well-being. This Working Group is our opportunity to move decisively from intention to implementation. Sri Lanka commits its full support and engagement to this essential effort.”
The Executive Director of the UN Tourism Zoritsa Urosevic delivered the welcome remarks. While Brazil was elected as the Chair, Maldives and Antigua and Barbuda were elected as the Vice-Chairs to the Inter-Institutional Working Group on Tourism and Climate Action.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh
19.11.2025
