People of Sichuan keen to see Lanka

Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from China

The Province of Sichuan with a population of over 87 million will be promoting their citizens to travel to Sri Lanka. Vice Governor of Sichuan Provincial Government Xiaoxiang Huang said that they were keen to promote tourism to Sri Lanka since the country is in the list of approved travel destinations by the Chinese government.

He said that in addition to leisure tourism, the Chinese entrepreneurs are also looking at investing in Sri Lanka with the idea of exporting to the other South Asian countries.

He said they did not have a link to Sri Lanka and the signing of a MoU with China Council for the promotion of International Trade Sichuan Council (CCPITSC) and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry has solved the problem.

People in Sichuan with 10 airports operating 150 domestic and international flights are keen to visit Asian countries and the Buddhist background in Lanka has made it a major attraction. The Vice Governor however said that more promotion in this area is needed.

He also said that he would use his office to persuade Air China to fly direct to Colombo from Sichuan. In addition Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines would also be persuaded to follow.

They have welcomed the move by SriLankan Airlines to fly to Beijing. "However we have to fly two hours if we are to get to Beijing and this is why we are promoting a direct flight to Colombo," he said. President FCCISL Nawaz Rajabdeen said that he would also update the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and would also invite Sri Lankans to visit Sichuan Province.