Sri Lanka’s tourism industry promoted at China’s Zhengzhou Mayor’s Forum
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China, Dr. Palitha Kohona has reportedly attended the opening ceremony of the 2021 China (Zhengzhou) International Mayor’s Forum on Tourism held recently.
The forum was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Henan Provincial People’s Government in China under the theme of ‘Market prosperity, scientific and technological innovation to enhance the competitiveness of urban tourism’.
In his opening address, member of the Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial Party Committee and the Secretary of the Zhengzhou Municipal Party Committee Xu L iyi has reportedly explained the construction project of cultural tourism zone, ‘Three cities, Three hundred kilometres, Three thousand years’ as part of promoting the cultural tourism. This project has reportedly highlighted and promoted China’s civilisation and the culture of the Yellow River.
Xu has further stated that through this project, they expect to increase the tourist interactions in the Henan Province and also to expand the cultural cooperation with other countries of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Acting Governor of Henan Province Wang Kai has reportedly stated that in the first quarter of this year, the Henan Province had received nearly 20 million tourists, and the tourism industry will be the major source of income of Henan Province as per the ‘Fourteenth Five Year Plan’ of China.
Ambassador Dr. Kohona was also invited to address the event.
While congratulating the Henan Provincial Committee members, Dr. Kohona had invited Chinese people to enjoy the natural beauty of Sri Lanka and to explore its potential business opportunities.
Dr. Kohona has further noted that Sri Lanka and Henan Province must develop closer relations and that will encourage further exchanges in various sectors such as tourism, culture, religion, education, trade and investment.
Executive Director of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Zhu Shanzhong, President of the World Tourism Union Duan Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Tourism Association Mario Hardy and other representatives of International Tourism Organisations, as well as Mayors of cities in Italy and Greece had also spoken via online.
OSL take:
The promotion of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry will definitely attract Chinese tourists to the island. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country when the global Covid 19 pandemic lockdown affected global travel. However, since reopening its borders in January this year, Sri Lanka has seen an increase in tourists arriving in the country as well as in the number of flights operated by international airlines. With Sri Lanka being listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is once again on the path to recovery after facing the impact of the global Covid 19 pandemic. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Also, Chinese businesses/investors could also explore opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210505/Z_3 |