Chinese tourism arrivals increase by over 25 per cent

BY A.G. PIYADASA

THE Tourist Board has been carrying out several promotional activities in China and as a result, the tourist traffic from China has recorded a total of 9,638 arrivals showing an increase of 25.3% during the year 2004.

There were 6,621 Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka during January to September 2005 showing an increase of 6.6%.

The commencement of the operation of direct flights by SriLankan Airlines in mid June this year was an added advantage in promoting this market.

We expect at least 10,000 tourists during this year," Additional Director SLTB (marketing) Madushani Perera said.

SLTB participated in the China International Travel Mart 2005 (CITM 2005) jointly organised by China National Tourism Administration, Yunnan Provincial People's Government and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China last November at Kunming.

A total of 80 countries and 34 provinces and autonomous states participated at this year's event, which was held in Kunming.

Among them were Asian countries such as India, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines.

Over 1,000 Chinese trade buyers attended the travel mart during the first two days and had attracted over 200,000 potential travelling public during the last two days.

Sri Lanka Tourist Board took part at this travel mart for the fifth consecutive year with the participation of seven travel companies and SriLankan Airlines.

The main objective of Sri Lanka participation at this fair was to create awareness among the Chinese travelling public in Yunnan Province about Sri Lanka, to attract more visitors during Cinese New year in early February and also to create a platform for Sri Lanka agents to meet up with the Chinese agents to contract business deals.

SriLankan Airlines offered a special package for the Chinese visitors planning to travel during the Chinese New Year.

SLTB also arranged a luncheon meeting for 16 travel media personnel from Yunnan and Mainland China. This was the first time we had a briefing for Kunming media.