Tourism officials and agencies across the region are optimistic that the program will deepen ties between Europe and the world's second-largest economy.
CGTN’s Pablo Gutierrez reports from Budapest.
#China #VisaFree #Tourism
CGTN’s Pablo Gutierrez reports from Budapest.
#China #VisaFree #Tourism
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NewsTranscript
00:00Victor Bedev has been promoting Hungary and Central Europe as a destination for Chinese tourists for over a decade,
00:08but now many Europeans are taking a chance to go the other way.
00:13Bedev says China's new visa-free policy for citizens from 38 European countries will open many new opportunities.
00:22China is a very, very fascinating and interesting country.
00:27On one side, they have their rich history that goes back 5,000 years.
00:32And on the other hand, that rapid and robust development that they have been through in the past 20 years, 30 years, 40 years,
00:42I think you have to see this. Europeans have to see this.
00:46While the visa-free policy currently applies to tourists, many young people hope it could pave the way for more academic exchanges with China.
00:56Then you can really see what society there is really like and be a part of it and learn all of it, basically, more than you would as a tourist.
01:07Under the new policy, travelers can now visit for up to 30 days without navigating a lengthy visa application process.
01:16This visa-free policy will remain in effect until the end of 2025, giving travelers plenty of time to explore China.
01:25Travel experts say China's visa-free policy is expected to boost opportunities for Europeans from exploring cultural sites
01:35to strengthening business ties with the world's second largest economy.
01:40In Slovakia, before the pandemic, around 18,000 tourists visited China each year.
01:46Experts say that number could triple.
01:49We want to promote China as a luxury destination. You can fly a very good business class, you can stay in five-star hotels,
01:57and you can explore the traditional culture, and this will be the main topic of our campaign.
02:02And, of course, without visa, it's so easy.
02:05In Croatia, local tourism agencies like Idea Travel are also gearing up for a boom in bookings to destinations like Beijing and Shanghai.
02:15Meanwhile, China has become the second most popular destination for German business travelers after the United States due to strong economic ties.
02:24China is Germany's largest trading partner, with trade reaching $320 billion last year.
02:31Many say the new policy is also advantageous for Beijing.
02:36Generally speaking, I think it's a way from the Chinese side to improve relations to the European Union and its member states.
02:43Budapest Airport, a key hub in Central Europe, has been gearing up for more travel to China,
02:49with 13 weekly flights connecting Budapest to four Chinese cities.
02:54Travel between the two countries is expected to grow.
02:58Meanwhile, Hungarian travel experts like Vereb are working with Chinese tourism officials to promote the country as a must-see destination.
03:08Pablo Gutiérrez, CGTN, Budapest.