We are grateful to you for accepting us: Chinese tourist

A Chinese woman Lee Swan Chen, 38, who was in a Chinese tour group said on Saturday (8) that she was grateful on behalf of the Chinese people because they were accepted with open arms in Narigama at Hikkaduwa in spite of the fact that there is a fear psychosis among the people about coronavirus.

The Sri Lankan guide of this Chinese group named Dhanushka Ratnapala, a resident of Nuwara- Eliya said that when this group came to Ella, Bandarawela and NuwaraEliya areas the hotel staff in some hotels had refused to accept them and they even refused to accept their luggage and bags on some occasions.

This group said that they were happy because when they came to ‘Refresh Blue’ hotel on Friday

(7) they were warmly welcomed with a king coconut drink. Mrs. Chen said that they were able to forget all difficulties and worries because the hotel staff accepted them happily with open arms .

This type of welcome was not expected by them at a time like this when the coronavirus has spread. They said that due to this warm welcome they wanted to stay in Hikkaduwa until such time that a suitable environment is created in China for them to go back there safely.

She said that if she was going to raise awareness about choosing another country for touring, she said that she would tell her friends through the social media to choose Sri Lanka .

The tourist guide said that two Chinese women were dressed in Sri Lankan Sari while they were travelling, at every occasion.

The owners of the Refresh Blue hotel in Hikkaduwa have given guidance to their staff to accept them warmly and one of the owners said that these people should be treated well so that they could travel freely.