COLOMBO, March 2 (Xinhua) — Sri Lanka’s tourism authority held a ceremony on Wednesday night at the country’s main Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome the first batch of Chinese tour groups in three years.

Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said at the airport that he was happy to receive the first tour groups from China and the South Asian country is expecting more Chinese tourists to come.

Featured with beautiful scenery and friendly people, Sri Lanka is expected to receive more Chinese tourists, which is an important part of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, said Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong.

Priantha Fernando, chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, said earlier that the SriLankan Airlines would operate nine flights a week starting from April to destinations in China, and it would facilitate travel between the two countries.

Tourism, one of Sri Lanka’s leading foreign exchange earners, has suffered a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic and political crises in the island country.

Sri Lanka aims to attract around 1.5 million tourists in 2023 and 3 million in 2024.

Source(s): Xinhua

ourist arrivals to the Maldives so far this year have exceeded 300,000.

Statistics publicized by the Tourism Ministry show that Maldives recorded 308,367 tourist arrivals in total as of last Tuesday. February 21st – marking an increase of 27.6 percent compared to the same period last year. In 2022, Maldives recorded 241,750 tourist arrivals as of February 21st.

The highest number of tourist arrivals has been recorded from Russia; 39,262.

Second highest number of tourist arrivals has been recorded from India at 33,561. The UK and Italy follow in third and fourth with 28,876 and 28,426 arrivals respectively.

Statistics show that tourism in the Maldives has returned to pre-pandemic levels as of present. In 2019, Maldives recorded 1.7 million tourist arrivals. The archipelago saw 1.68 million tourist arrivals in 2022 – exceeding the target of 1.6 million tourist arrivals set for the year by the government.

The government has expressed high expectations for the tourism sector this year. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in his presidential address at the inaugural sitting of the parliament for the year, said the government targets to achieve 1.8 million tourist arrivals this year.

Source(s): sun.mv

Popular extreme adventure sports athlete, Damien Rider, has kicked off his expedition to paddle across eight Maldivian islands in eight days for a world record on Friday morning.

The starting point of Rider’s expedition was Hulhumale’ Ferry Terminal’s jetty area. He will conclude his journey on February 24th, at zero degrees, which is the equator.

Rider’s journey will be the longest distance paddled in the Maldives and will also make him the only person to paddle this channel.

In an earlier interview to Sun, Rider said that he will be utilizing a paddle boat specifically build for the expedition in Thailand.

Briefing on his preparations, Rider emphasized there will be obstructions as he takes up a never-before-endeavored challenge in a nation with an equatorial climate such as the Maldives.

“This would be super tough for me. The hotness, current and waves of the sea and the direction of wind, these things will remain a challenge. I will paddle for 12 hours per day without a break. Will only make stops to eat, hydrate and rest,” he said.

During his journey, Rider will make stops at seven islands; K. Maafushi, V. Rakeedhoo, M. Kolhufushi, Th. Guraidhoo, L. Fonadhoo, Maanagaalaa and GDh. Vaadhoo.

Updates regarding his journey will be shared on social media. The course can also be viewed on live tracking website. He will also showcase the islands where he makes stops through livestreams. The documented journey can be viewed in 54 countries.

Ooredoo Maldives is among the sponsors of this journey.

Rider is an extreme adventure sports athlete who holds 15 world records. He is also a popular author and motivational speaker.

Rider has previously paddled solo, 800 kilometers for 17 days, in the most shark-infested summer Australia has ever seen.

Source(s): sun.mv