Miguel Cunat, creator of Lankan Pekoe Trail calls for saving Central Province tourism

Miguel Cunat

We below feature an interview with Spanish trail tourism expert who transformed the plantation routes of Sri Lanka into a world class tourism enterprise. The 300 kilometre Pekoe Trail, winding through the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, was created by Miguel Cunat who has made Sri Lanka his adopted home. 

Q. As creator of the Pekoe Trail, how do you see the importance of stabilising the landslide affected Central Province again for tourism?

A. The Central Province is not just another tourism region in Sri Lanka. It is absolutely central to the country’s tourism ecosystem. My estimate is that 80–90% of international visitors pass through the Central Province. It is the connective tissue between the Cultural Triangle, the tea country, and the South.

This region holds some of Sri Lanka’s deepest cultural and spiritual assets; Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth, historic tea landscapes, and the lived heritage of the hill communities. If the Central Province feels unstable, the impact is felt across the tourism economy.

Stabilising the Central Province, physically, socially, and narratively, is an imperative. When this region is resilient, accessible, and confidently open to visitors, it gives confidence to the whole country’s tourism story.

Q. Do you think Sri Lanka needs to rethink its climate preparedness?

A. Yes, absolutely. Climate science is very clear that South Asia, including Sri Lanka, is undergoing a structural shift in rainfall patterns, with more intense precipitation events concentrated over shorter periods. These changes significantly increase the risk of flooding, slope failure, and landslides, particularly in hill country landscapes with steep terrain.

The scientific consensus now emphasises that climate risk must be addressed through adaptation and preparedness, not just emergency response. This means integrating climate risk into core planning decisions: locations where construction is permitted, how hillsides are stabilised, how river reservations and drainage systems are maintained, how estates manage soil and water runoff. Another important factor is how local communities are supported before, during, and after extreme events. These are fundamentally cross-sector issues, not the sole responsibility of disaster management authorities.

This approach is now fully aligned with the thinking of major international donors and development agencies. 

From a tourism perspective, this science has direct implications. Climate preparedness needs to inform product design, infrastructure standards, insurance frameworks, visitor communication, seasonal planning, and investment decisions. Trails, valleys, coastal zones, and heritage landscapes are all climate-sensitive assets and require management plans that are informed by climate projections rather than historical norms.

If Sri Lanka wants a tourism economy that is resilient over the next 20 to 30 years, climate-informed planning is no longer optional, it is a baseline requirement grounded in both science and economic reality.

Q. How do you think issues of landslides are going to impact Pekoe Trail–related tourism?

A. Landslides are one of the most serious risks for trail-based tourism in the hill country. What matters is how intelligently the risk is managed.

The Pekoe Trail was designed with flexibility in mind. It is not a rigid, single-path product; it is a living system. Some sections may need temporary rerouting, seasonal closures, or long-term redesign as climate conditions evolve. Clear communication, local monitoring, and rapid response mechanisms are key.

If landslide risk is ignored or downplayed, it will damage confidence. But if it is acknowledged, mapped, and managed transparently, hikers and tour operators are surprisingly understanding. Many international trails operate in challenging environments. What reassures people is good governance, clear information, and visible care for both safety and communities.

Ultimately, landslides reinforce the argument for stewardship-led tourism rather than extractive tourism. Trails need caretakers, not just promoters.

Q. Do you have experience of other countries interweaving climate preparedness with tourism?

A. Yes. 

In countries like New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria, and parts of Spain, trails are constantly monitored, risk maps are public, seasonal closures are normalised, and rerouting is accepted as part of responsible management. Importantly, there is strong coordination between tourism bodies, local councils, landowners, and environmental agencies.

Closer to home, places like Nepal have learned, sometimes the hard way, that mountain tourism must adapt continuously to climate realities. The lesson from these destinations is clear: resilience comes from long-term thinking, decentralised management, empowered local stewards, and honest communication with visitors.

Sri Lanka has the landscapes and the appeal to become a leader in climate-aware tourism in South Asia, and the Pekoe Trail points clearly in that direction. It demonstrates how tourism assets can be conceived as stewardship platforms, not just visitor products. However, the reality is that stewardship does not happen by intent alone.

The Pekoe Trail itself still requires a properly resourced stewardship framework, one that is technically capable of managing climate risk, land-use pressures, maintenance, safety, and community coordination on an ongoing basis. This is not unique to the Pekoe Trail; it reflects a wider gap in how Sri Lanka governs emerging tourism assets that are environmental, spatial, and climate-sensitive in nature.

If the country is serious about climate-aware tourism, these assets must be governed at the highest possible standards, with clear mandates, professional oversight, and, critically, predictable, long-term funding. Without that, stewardship remains an idea rather than an operational reality. With it, Sri Lanka has a genuine opportunity to lead, not just regionally, but globally.

NOTE: Our next week coverage linked to the recent climatic disaster will be from flood battered Mannar in the North-West coast of Sri Lanka.