The Sri Lankan government is planning to sign bilateral agreements with a number of countries including China, Pakistan, and Iraq, aimed at increasing tourist arrivals and to boost the crisis-hit sector, a top official said.

The Cabinet has granted approval to sign the bilateral agreements with China, Pakistan, Estonia, and Iraq to promote tourism, while the government expects to enter into agreements with several other countries such as South Africa and Georgia, reports the Daily Financial Times newspaper.

"Escalation of the coronavirus crisis could pose a negative impact on the tourism industry. But we are optimistic of signing these agreements as soon as the tourism industry in the world recovers," Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Daily Financial Times. .

The minister said such agreements would benefit Sri Lanka, as well as other countries in the event disasters, hit the world.

Sri Lanka has already signed agreements for tourism promotion with 10 countries - India, Thailand, Seychelles, Poland, Tajikistan, Malaysia, Australia, Russia, South Korea, and the Philippines.