Campaigns to attract Chinese tourists to Lanka: Anura

FROM ANJANA Gamage in Beijing, China

MANY promotional campaigns will be launched to attract Chinese. Holiday-makers to Sri Lanka, Tourism, Industry and Investment Promotion Minister Anura Bandaranaike said.

Participating as chief guest at the Quindao Tourism International Expo 2005, in Shangdon city, China, the Minister said the relationship between Sri Lanka and China dated back to the 5th century BC.

"Although this is hard to believe, it is the truth. History records the advent of Tsaiang and Fa-Hsien Theras to Sri Lanka in the 412 AD. Fa-Hsien Thera has lived in Sri Lanka for two years and during this period he is said to have translated the Buddhist philosophy into Chinese language," Bandaranaike said.

While conveying his gratitude to the Quindao Tourism Administration for inviting him to participate as the chief guest, the minister also said Sri Lanka tourism considered it as a singular honour to participate at the tourism expo.

"This is a very good opportunity to showcase our interest in the huge Chinese market after being conferred with accredited destination status in 2003", Bandaranaike said.

"Sri Lanka tourism has continued since then to focus sharply on the Chinese market.

However due to the lack of direct air access delayed in achieving our targets. But now with the establishment of the missing link through SriLankan Airlines, our tourism, trade and investment sectors have been strengthened," the Minister said.

"Entry to China has been in our program for this year. With the assistance of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and the other tourism authorities, we will launch many promotional programs to attract Chinese holiday-markers to Sri Lanka.

It is also expected that a large number of Sri Lankans will take this direct flight to visit China. Our target for this year is 600,000 tourists. With the opening of the huge Chinese market, we have no hesitation that this target is achievable," Bandaranaike said.

Tourism Ministry Secretary Dr. P. Ramanujam said Shangdon city comprises only of a population of 92 million and is also considered to be the second wealthiest province in China.

"Tourism authorities in Shangdon province are keen on an MoU on exchanging tourists from both countries.

They promised to send a team of officials to Sri Lanka shortly to further study on that subject," Ramanujam told the Daily News.

Xia Geng, Quindao Mayor Vice Director of Quindao Tourism Administration Leng Zhenzhong, Guo Qun and Zheng Hairong of Quindao Tourism Expo also participated.