Sri Lanka and China have reached preliminary consensus on a series of joint tourism initiatives under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Foreign Ministry said following an official visit by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe to Sichuan Tourism College.
The agreed initiatives include establishing a Chinese Sichuan Cuisine Academy in Sri Lanka, creating a China–Sri Lanka Joint Research Centre for Mountain Tourism, launching a China–Sri Lanka Cultural Tourism Cooperation Platform, developing an Innovation Service Research Centre for Hospitality, and expanding Sri Lankan student enrolment at Sichuan Tourism College.
Both sides held extensive discussions on tourism talent development, joint research and vocational training. The Foreign Ministry said the dialogue reflected a shared vision to deepen cultural and educational ties while promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Ranasinghe — who completed his doctoral studies at Sichuan University — emphasised the complementary strengths of Sri Lanka and Sichuan in tourism resources, highlighting opportunities in culinary arts, hospitality and eco-tourism. He framed culture as a core driver of tourism and stressed that policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, digital empowerment and educational exchanges under the BRI can transform cultural bonds into sustainable cooperation.
China is now one of Sri Lanka’s top source markets, with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority targeting 300,000 Chinese arrivals annually to buffer downturns in traditional European markets. The bilateral tourism track was elevated after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s January 2025 state visit to Beijing, which produced sweeping agreements on aviation connectivity and mutual tourist travel.
Subsequent measures have included joint media production between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group to promote local destinations to Chinese audiences, and the introduction of Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) in Sri Lanka to reduce revenue leakage and empower small vendors. The Colombo Port City and the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities are being aligned into the same tourism narrative aimed at high-yield Chinese travellers seeking wellness, nature and cultural experiences. India, however, remains Sri Lanka’s largest single source market.
Sri Lanka crossed 840,000 tourist arrivals by April 22 according to SLTDA data.
