Sri Lanka mulls around 200,000 Chinese tourists under a mega promotional campaign
A far reaching promotional and awareness campaign by Sri Lanka to penetrate the growing Chinese outbound tourism market has begun, officials said.
Chinese tourists arrivals to the island has recorded around 73 per cent increase to 16,582 in the first six months of this year compared
Picture shows a Sri Lankan Tourism hoarding in China.
9,622 during the same period last year, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Bashwara Gunaratne told the Business Times on the sidelines of the “Sri Lanka Shines in Beijing” joint mega promotional campaign launched at China World Hotel in Beijing on Thursday.
A documentary on Sri Lanka will be aired over Chinese TV for the first time under this initiative, he added.
He noted that the campaign will pave the way towards establishing contacts between Sri Lankan travel agents and hoteliers as well as business leaders and their Chinese counter parts.
Travel agents will be able to network and seal business agreements, he said adding that China is still a virgin market as far as Sri Lanka Tourism is concerned and it is essential to develop it as it has huge potential with 83 million travellers visiting overseas last year.
He disclosed that two special tour packages with Sri Lankan Airlines and the travel industry in China have been introduced to attract high end Chinese tourist.
Around 40 Sri Lankan tour operators are in China to establish contacts with their Chinese counterparts, he revealed.
The Sri Lanka Shines in Beijing mega tourism promotional campaign was launched at a colourful ceremony at China World Hotel with Deputy Minister Susantha Punchi Nilame as the chief guest.
Around 500 guests attended the gala ceremony adorned with traditional dancing, and music of both countries.
Chinese tourists are very keen about eco-tourism and they a very interested in Sri Lanka as it is a beautiful country, said Chang Yan, Vice Chairman the Chinese Merchants Union Association.
She added that she is planning to visit Sri Lanka with a powerful business delegation soon focusing mainly on tourism.
She noted that Sri Lanka should carry out an awareness campaigns highlighting the beauty of nature, rich cultural heritage and historic monuments and places of religious worship.
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