China and Sri Lanka plan to open direct flights in November of 2004, aiming to boost the tourism between an emerging outbound tourist market and "a land like no other".

Paddy Withana, chairman of Sri Lanka's Board of Tourism, said here Monday at a seminar that Colombo and Beijing would be linked by a direct flight each week after the two countries finalized the paperwork.

He described Sri Lanka as a special place that attracted Chinese people with its modern facilities, cultural sites, unique vegetation, mountains and intact beaches.

Even Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was on a five-day official visit to China, joined the team to promote his country as a travel destination.

He said he was pleased that China had listed Sri Lanka as one of its approved destinations for Chinese citizens. "Sri Lanka has rich tourism resources and beautiful scenery and it is also one of the birth places of Buddhism," he noted.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on tourism last November, enabling Chinese citizens to take organized tours to the island country.

Liu Wuxiong, deputy general manager of China International Travel Service, one of China's leading travel agencies, said that his company had already sent some travel groups to Sri Lanka and it is going to introduce the country to more Chinese people.

"Tropical scenery and cultural heritage were the biggest attractions for Chinese travelers," he said.

Up to now, tourists had to change flights in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore and the opening of direct flights would save time and prove more easy accesses, Liu said.

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