China’s initiative to make travel easier for European tourists by waiving visa requirements has quickly gained traction in Slovakia, one of the latest EU countries added to the program.
The expansion of the scheme means citizens from more than 20 European nations can now visit China visa-free for the next two years.
CGTN’s Pablo Gutierrez reports from Bratislava.
#China #Travel #Visa #Slovakia
The expansion of the scheme means citizens from more than 20 European nations can now visit China visa-free for the next two years.
CGTN’s Pablo Gutierrez reports from Bratislava.
#China #Travel #Visa #Slovakia
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NewsTranscript
00:00Exploring China's ancient sites was the trip of a lifetime for Nika Durchaniova.
00:07She recently returned to Slovakia from a 10-day visit that took her to landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.
00:16I really enjoyed it. The historical monuments were really beautiful.
00:20The food was delicious. The speed of trains was incredible. It's not like in our country.
00:28Durchaniova says her experience in China was so incredible that she's already eager to return.
00:35And China's recent decision to waive visa requirements for Slovak citizens has given her another reason to plan her next trip.
00:45I will go to China as well again to see maybe more of nature, to see some national parks maybe.
00:52Travel experts say China's visa-free policy is making the country a more attractive destination for Slovakian tourists.
01:01Yeah, it's been great news. I mean, our prime minister just visited China and it was one of the news we got from China.
01:08Without the visa, everything will be much smoother.
01:11Zelisnyak, who has traveled to China more than 40 times, says interest in China as a travel destination has surged since the change in the rules was announced.
01:23Travel agencies in Slovakia anticipate that the new visa-free initiative will significantly boost tourism to China.
01:33They say this policy not only opens the door for cultural exchange between people to people, but also builds stronger relationships between both countries.
01:45Before the pandemic, around 18,000 Slovak tourists visited China each year.
01:50Now, with the new visa-free policy in place, the number is expected to triple.
01:55Travel agencies across Slovakia are getting ready for the anticipated surge in demand by developing new tourism packages offering luxury holidays.
02:06We're going to promote China as a luxury destination because this is something that most people don't connect with China.
02:13You can apply for a very good business class, you can stay in five-star hotels, and you can explore the traditional culture.
02:19And of course, without a visa, it's so easy.
02:22And as Slovaks like Durcaniova make plans to head east, it's clear the visa-free program is already inspiring new adventures and connections.
02:33Pablo Gutierrez, CGTN, Bratislava, Slovakia.