Sri Lanka is set to get its first group of post-pandemic Chinese travelers after becoming one of the first 20 countries to resume the organization of outgoing group tourists from China considering that COVID-19.

Their flight will leave from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport on March 3.

We are expecting Chinese tourists to come back quickly, but their particular interest has been to countries closer to China, Anura Fernando, the consul general of Sri Lanka in Shanghai, said throughout an interview with China Daily about the countrys passion to get more travelers from China.As quickly as the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism revealed the choice to enable travel agencies to resume booking groups to take a trip to 20 nations and regions on Feb 6, the Sri Lanka consul general began to work carefully with travel agencies and other partners to resume direct flights between Shanghai and Colombo, its capital city.With its tropical environment, along with abundant and varied cultural heritage, Sri Lanka has been a popular location for holidaymakers from worldwide.

In 2018, the country got a record variety of 280,000 tourists from China.

Since many Chinese have not taken a trip out of the nation for 3 years, they are looking at closer locations, he states, adding but I believe Sri Lanka should be appealing to most Chinese tourists .

He notes that the abundant heritage of Buddhist culture, tea plantations, gem stones, as well as its natural appeal and water activities, are all appealing for Chinese travelers.

Now that the pandemic is over, and Sri Lanka has emerged from the recession, Fernando hopes that this year travelers numbers will increase to about 1 million .

China is the biggest trading partner of Sri Lanka and the largest source of foreign investments.

With the finalizing of a free trade arrangement expected to be made this year, Fernando thinks the trade volume will increase between the 2 countries.One of the very first countries involved in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, Sri Lanka has actually seen significant projects constructed by China, such as the Port City in Colombo that started in 2014.

The construction process was slowed down since of the pandemic, and now that the Chinese employees are returning, he states the building and construction has actually rebooted, with a new worldwide monetary center anticipated to be completed in the coming 2 years when it will start functioning.Sri Lanka has a big Chinese community so Chinese tourists are quite in the house , with Chinese restaurants and Chinese-speaking tour guides.

We have a great deal of cultural bonding, Fernando states.

As much as we require the foreign currency, we also require more relationship with the Chinese individuals .

From the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in 1973, to the Lotus Tower revealed in 2019, China has actually helped construct significant structures in Sri Lanka, which are evidence of the close ties between the 2 nations.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of sister cities ties between Shanghai and Colombo, and the consul basic hopes more cultural, tourism and service communication might enhance the relationship in between Chinese and Sri Lankan people.Source: China Daily