China, European Community sign tourism memorandum

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 13, 2004

China, European Community sign tourism memorandum

China National Tourism Administration and the European Community signed a milestone memorandum of understanding in Beijing on February 12 that will facilitate Chinese group tourism to Europe.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the European Community signed a milestone memorandum of understanding in Beijing on February 12 that will facilitate Chinese group tourism to Europe.

The new accord is expected to enter into force before this summer and will generate significant flows of Chinese visitors to Europe.

Chinese people will be able to travel to 12 countries of the 15 EU members through selected travel agencies.

Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom are not participating in the present agreement. They are currently negotiating similar bilateral accords with the CNTA.

The Chinese tourists will benefit from new facilitated procedures to apply for tourist visas from the EU members which have been granted "Approved Destination Status" (ADS) by China, according to the agreement.

The new accord is expected to come into force before this summer, and will generate significant flows of Chinese visitors to Europe so as to boost EU-China tourism exchanges.

EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten praised the memorandum as good news for China and for Europe.

"I hope many will take up the new opportunity to travel. Human contacts really do make a difference, and I believe this new agreement will help Europe and China to understand each other better, as well as bringing new commercial opportunities," Patten said.

Similarly, CNTA spokesman Zhang Jianzhong said: "We are very pleased and this is a very good beginning for our co-operation in tourism. The next step for CNTA is to work hard to expand such co-operation into all countries in European Union countries."

EU consulates in China will simplify and better facilitate delivery of tourism visas for groups (with a minimum of 5 persons) which apply through designated Chinese travel agencies. Meanwhile, the CNTA has agreed to take back tourists who could possibly overstay their visas according to the agreement.

Until now, Chinese tour groups were not allowed to travel to the EU, and individual tourism was only possible with certain EU member states. Other visitors have until now travelled to the EU on different types of visas, such as for business or to visit family.

To date, China has signed ADS agreements with 28 countries and regions worldwide.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China signs tourism MOU with 12 EU nations

Why Lai Changxing's appeal to Canadian court rejected? ( 6 Messages)

Japan decides to further cut back economic aid to China ( 30 Messages)

US media urge gov't not to surrender China market to EU ( 2 Messages)

Bird flu detected in US as virus wanes in Asia ( 2 Messages)

Handling Sino-Japan ties in an overall perspective ( 4 Messages)