Sunday Times 2
Events
View(s):Friendship among the people: Guangdong China-Sri Lanka Tourism seminar
By Vinusha Paulraj
Known to be China’s South gate, the history-heavy province of Guangdong is soon to be a travel friendly location for Sri Lankans. Officials from Guangdong visiting the island last week held discussions with the local travel authorities, with the hopes of promoting tourism between the two states.
Ancient harbours and port cities in the flourishing region marked the start of the silk route, which served as “a bridge between the East and West” according to the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism development Authority, Paddy Withanage. Speaking at the Guangdong China- Sri Lanka Tourism seminar which followed the discussions he said the local tourism industry contributes three percent to the national GDP, whereas the global tourism industry provides for nine percent of the world GDP. Working on increasing the local contribution, “we hope to arrive at five percent” he disclosed.
They welcomed around 1.5 million visitors last year and this year “we’re looking at hitting 2 million” according to the Chairman and steps to attain this include appealing to the tourists from Guangdong. In making Sri Lanka a favourite stop among Chinese measures covering possible visa concessions, similar to the “72 hour transit visa” policy adopted by China were discussed.
What began with silk merchants still continues today, with this Chinese province alone being listed as the 13th largest contributor to the world GDP. A melting pot for cuisine, culture and trade Guangdong’s GDP in 2013 crossed 1 Trillion US Dollars which according to Deputy Ambassador Ren Fqiang from China to Sri Lanka is sufficient to consider the tourists as potential investors. “It’s people with money to buy the air tickets and hotels who travel” he said, and this means return travelers must be encouraged.
“As always, the Embassy is supportive of the initiatives” to this end according to the Deputy Ambassador, who said the measures resorted to need not be ground-breaking. “About 95 percent of Chinese don’t speak English” he noted, which means even Chinese sign boards at airports and interpreters would be of immense value. Perhaps inclusion of a Chinese Television available to guests in hotels, or even brochures at traditional Sri Lankan sites he said will add to a tourist’s experience significantly.
Seasonal dragon boat races, Cantonese operas and villages frozen in time give Guangdong an identity as unique as Sri Lanka, as noted by the Senior Advisor of Tourism to the Guangdong province, Lin Mun Sheng. He hopes that the efforts of the two governments in promoting the location among tourist circles would foster a curiosity to learn of another culture and “friendship among the people.”
Annual Sea Sunday service
The annual Sea Sunday service for the seafaring community worldwide was held last Sunday, July 12 at St. Peter’s Church, Fort. The celebrant and preacher for the service was the Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dhiloraj R. Canagasabey.
The service was well attended by members of the armed forces and their families, members of the seafaring community and their families and parishioners of the church. The Navy band was in attendance with cadets of CINEC participating as flag bearers. The picture shows the Bishop accepting a flag from a naval cadet.
Dr. Karunadasa to assume duties as Qatar ambassador
Dr. Karunadasa, a former professor of international relations at the University of Colombo, has left for Doha, Qatar to assume duties as Sri Lanka’s new ambassador.
Prior to this appointment, he served as the Commissioner of National Housing under the Ministry of Housing and Samurdhi. Dr. Karunadasa was welcomed at the Doha airport by Qatar Foreign Ministry’s Assistant Protocol Director Abdulaziz Ali al-Naama.