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Feature: Chinese tourists, businessmen welcome Ukraine's new visa-on-arrival policy

Xinhua, June 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zhang Wenxian, a student from Macao, arrived at the Boryspil International Airport in Kiev, the capital of Ukrain, on Monday.

"I have never been to the European countries before. It is my first time in Europe and I am glad to be here, in the Eastern European country, in Ukraine," Zhang told Xinhua upon his arrival.

The 25-year-old holidaymaker became the first Chinese citizen to be issued visa on arrival at the Boryspil airport under the eased travel rules introduced by Ukraine earlier in the day for visitors from China.

Under the simplified visa procedure, Chinese tourists and businessmen can get 15-day Ukrainian entry visas upon their arrival at the Boryspil airport if they have a document confirming the business or tourist purpose of the visit.

At the airport, everything looked prepared for issuing the visas: four special cabins were installed in the middle of the arrivals hall and four consular officers, dressed in business suits, were ready to provide their services for travellers.

With a big backpack on his back and a map of Kiev in his hands, Zhang looked like a typical adventure seeker. The traveller said he decided to visit Ukraine immediately after having learned from the media outlets that Kiev plans to introduce a visa-on-arrival policy for Chinese tourists.

"I have heard that Ukraine is a very beautiful country, where there are beautiful boulevards and streets. It is also famous for very beautiful girls and beautiful architecture. The people from China are really interested in Ukraine," Zhang said.

The eased visa rules are also good news for Yu Yu, a transfer passenger travelling via Ukraine to Turkey.

"I am a lucky man because I do not have to wait 24 hours before my next flight at the airport," Yu told Xinhua after receiving his visa.

Yu, who is a chief executive at a Dalian-based firm which produces and exports luxury vehicles and fur clothes, said that simplified visa regime inspired him to seek business partners in Ukraine.

"Thanks to the initiative, I plan to visit Ukraine again. In general, I highly welcome this decision. Firstly, it will contribute to the economic development of China and Ukraine. Secondly, it is good, because China maintains friendly relations with all former Soviet republics. It will deepen our ties," Yu said.

Another advantage of the eased travel regime is time-saving. The visa issuing process at the airport takes between 15 and 20 minutes. Previously, Chinese citizens have to travel hundreds of kilometers to apply for a visa at the Ukrainian embassy in Beijing and then wait at least 15 days for approval.

"I think, this initiative is very useful because it makes visa obtaining process much more comfortable. Last time, it took about a month for me to get the Ukrainian visa," said a businessman from South China's Guangdong Province, who called himself Kevin.

He was echoed by Ya Qin, a business lady from Beijing, who frequently visited Kiev. She said that the simplified visa procedures would encourage Chinese travellers to Ukraine and facilitate the two-way business.

"It is such good news for Chinese citizens! Ukraine is a very beautiful and large country, which is worth visiting. Besides, this move will improve business ties between Ukraine and China, because many Chinese businessmen want to do business with Ukrainian partners," Ya told Xinhua.

Despite the fact that the visa obtaining procedure would be substantially simplified the authorities of the Boryspil airport still urge Chinese travellers to be cautious while preparing their documents.

Volodymyr Zavgorodniy, the head of the operational division of the Consular Service department at the Boryspil airport, advised visitors from China to carefully follow the specific travel requirements before their arrival in Ukraine.

"Tourist travellers are obliged to show the consular officer either a travel voucher, or an agreement with a travel agency, or a hotel reservation," Zavgorodniy told Xinhua.

"As to business visitors, they have to present either an invitation from the Ukrainian state-run company, or an invitation from a private firm approved by the State Migration Service, or an invitation from a foreign diplomatic mission working in Ukraine," he added.

Besides, each visa applicant should have a return flight ticket and a financial support of 750 U.S. dollars for 15 days of the trip.

The visa-on-arrival for Chinese citizens would be available at Boryspil airport through Sept. 30, 2016. The visa fee is about 100 dollars. Endit