FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka and China have forged an agreement comprising multiple collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the tourism sector under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry.
This agreement was reached during the recent official visit of Ruwan Ranasinghe, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, to the Sichuan Tourism College in China.
The visit culminated in a symposium focused on cooperation, where both nations established a preliminary agreement on various joint initiatives, as stated by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry.
Among the collaborative efforts are plans to create a Sichuan Cuisine Academy in China, establish a Joint Research Center for Mountain Tourism between China and Sri Lanka, launch a Cultural Tourism Cooperation Platform, develop an Innovation Service Research Center for the hospitality sector, and increase the number of Sri Lankan students participating in the “Study at Sichuan Tourism College” program.
The Foreign Ministry highlighted that extensive discussions took place regarding enhancing collaboration in tourism talent development, joint research initiatives, and vocational training.
According to the statement, these discussions reflected a mutual aspiration to strengthen cultural and educational connections while promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Deputy Minister Ranasinghe, who completed his doctoral studies at Sichuan University, pointed out the complementary strengths of both Sri Lanka and Sichuan in terms of tourism resources, emphasizing the potential for collaboration in areas such as culinary arts, hospitality, and eco-tourism.
He stressed the significance of creating partnerships between academic institutions to encourage innovation and shared growth.
Ranasinghe also recognized culture as a vital element in driving tourism development, asserting that coordination in policy, infrastructure connectivity, digital empowerment, and educational exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative could help transform cultural relationships into sustainable partnerships.
Sri Lanka and China have developed a strong bilateral bond in the tourism sector, which is now a key component of the island’s strategy for economic recovery following recent challenges.
By 2026, China is expected to solidify its role as one of Sri Lanka’s leading source markets for tourists, with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) aiming to attract 300,000 Chinese visitors annually to offset declines in traditional European tourist numbers.
This cooperation gained significant momentum after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to Beijing in January 2025, during which both countries signed comprehensive agreements to improve aviation links and facilitate mutual tourist travel.
These initiatives encompass the joint production of media content by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and the China Media Group (CMG) to showcase Sri Lankan attractions to a broad Chinese audience, as well as the implementation of digital payment systems like Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) in Sri Lanka to minimize revenue losses and support local small businesses.
By incorporating Chinese-backed infrastructure projects, such as the Colombo Port City, into the tourism narrative and aligning with the “International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities,” Sri Lanka aims to establish itself as a prime destination for affluent Chinese travelers seeking wellness, nature-focused, and cultural experiences.
Despite this, India has consistently been the largest source of tourists to Sri Lanka in recent years. (Colombo/April 27/2026)
