CEECs should implement attractive tourist visa policy for Chinese: official

Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) should accelerate the implementation of visa on arrival, visa-free, and multiple entry visa policy for Chinese tourists, according to Li Jinzao, head of the China National Tourism Administration who was at the China tourism information day conference in Budapest on Thursday.

Increasingly, countries have been implementing very attractive and competitive tourist visa policies. Last year, the United States implemented an up to 10-year multiple entry visa policy for Chinese tourists, and this year Canada has implemented the same policy, Li said.

He said the goal of the travel information day was to give CEECs a more comprehensive understanding of the Chinese tourism industry and the demands of Chinese tourists.

Li hoped to increase the number of direct flights between China and Central and Eastern European cities so as to reduce the travel time and expenses of Chinese tourists. He pointed out that China and CEECs have huge potential for cooperation in tourism. He welcomed CEECs to strengthen tourism promotion in China, and hoped CEECs would become a new tourist hot spot for Chinese tourists.

In Li's view, CEECs should develop more tourism products and provide a more attentive service for Chinese tourists. He also suggested CEECs and China's tourism enterprises should strengthen cooperation.

China's outbound tourists last year topped 100 million, an increase of 19.49 percent, Li said.

The official launch of the China-CEECs tourism cooperation promotion year will be held on Thursday evening. Endit