Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka on a steady rise

Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka is on a steady rise, as the country has received 16,582 tourists during the first six months of this year, compared to 9,622 visitors received during the same period of last year. This is a 72.3-pct year on year growth. The latest jump shows encouraging signs as the Government of Sri Lanka is campaigning vigorously to capture a slice out of the growing Chinese outbound tourism market, which during the year 2012 stood at 83 million tourists.

Sri Lanka Tourism is planning to attract 60,000 Chinese tourists to the Island nation during this year with a much bigger focus during the next few years. With the guidance of the Minister of Economic Development Hon.Basil Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka Tourism at present is vigoursly promoting the country in the main Chinese markets. Accordingly a series of promotion campaigns are planned to be held during this year and among them ranks a Bus branding campaign in China,which will be held in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. A 3 day mega joint promotional campaign is also on the cards.
Sri Lanka recorded a 13.1% Year on Year growth in tourist arrivals for the period from January to June 2013 attracting 512,281 tourists.
India, France, UK, Germany, Maldives and Australia are some of our biggest tourism markets, which brings in a higher number of visitors annually.