More Chinese tourists flock to Sri Lanka in first half of year

The number of Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka increased 142 percent in the first half of 2006 over the previous year.

China and Sri Lanka maintained stable political relations and traditional friendship, which provided solid foundation for bilateral tourism cooperation. China hopes to enhance tourism cooperation with Sri Lanka and the Chinese government will encourage citizens to visit Sri Lanka, said Shao Qiwei, director of China National Tourism Administration.

According to the prediction of Sri Lanka Tourism Board, the nation will build 25,000 hotels and tourism resorts by 2010. Sri Lanka hopes to attract one million tourists by 2010, including 100,000 from China.

Source: Xinhua