Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka is on a steady rise, as the country has recieved 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 Basil Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka Tourism at present is vigorously 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.