Four-month promotion to boost Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board along with the national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines, has launched a major four-month promotional campaign with a special package for Chinese visitors commencing March 1-June 30, 2007 to coincide with the visit of President Rajapaksa to China to mark the 50 th celebrations of diplomatic relations between the Sri Lanka and China, a Tourist Board spokesperson said on Friday.

A press briefing was organized by the Sri Lankan Airlines together with the Tourist Board on February 28 at Kerry Center Hotel with the presence of Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Tourism.

It commenced with the welcome remarks by Chanaka Olagama, Country Manager of Sri Lankan Airlines followed by a presentation introducing the special offers by Ms. Jodie Hu, Sales Manager of Sri Lankan Airlines Beijing office. The Minister of Tourism and Minister of Post & Telecommunications participated in the Q&A session along with K.A.D. George Michael, Addl. Secretary/Tourism and Ms. Madubhani Perera, Addl. Director, Marketing where more than 40 media personnel and over 10 travel agents in China attended. To coincide with the special offer, a joint advertising campaign with Sri Lankan Airlines was launched in the print media to publicize this offer.

Meanwhile on March 1, the Minister of Tourism hosted a banquet in honour of President Rajapaksa where 300 members of the business community, media and travel agents in Shanghai were present at Xijiao State Guest Hotel. The Tourist Board sponsored the cultural troupe of Channa Upuli Performing Arts Foundation which was well received by the Chinese audience at the banquet where six chefs from the Mount Lavinia Hotel prepared fusion food with the Chinese chefs for the banquet.

Minister of Tourism, Mr. Moragoda made presentations in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou for the business community to create an awareness of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Special gifts to mark the 50 years of diplomatic relations were also distributed among the guests at the three banquets in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.