国内英语资讯:Feature: Eased visa policies boost exchanges, cooperation between China, Balkan nations_时事

国内英语资讯:Feature: Eased visa policies boost exchanges, cooperation between China, Balkan nations

Following the simplification of the visa application process for Chinese nationals, Romania is expected to attract more Chinese tourists, thus injecting vitality into its tourism industry. Bogdan Trif, Romania's minister of tourism, has expressed his country's willingness to become a main tourist destination for the Chinese people.

China opened a visa application service center in Romania's capital city of Bucharest, the first inside the EU, on June 22 to facilitate the visa process and provide better service to Romanians applying for Chinese visas.

TOURISM BOOM

According to data from Serbia's Statistical Office, a total of 18,530 Chinese tourists visited Serbia between Jan. 1 and May 1, up 13 percent compared to the same period last year. Labovic said the number indicates the decision to abolish visa requirement for Chinese tourists is "wise and important."

Trif said the year 2017 witnessed a 22 percent increase year-on-year of Chinese tourists in Romania. In Albania, Chinese tourists increased by 69 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to Gertion Cobo, an expert associated with the country's Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

According to BiH's Agency for Statistics, from January to April 2018, Chinese tourists coming to the country increased 77.9 percent year-on-year, while the number of tourists who stayed overnight in the country rose 69.6 percent.

Mirko Sarovic, BiH's minister of foreign trade and economic relations told Xinhua in a recent interview that the Balkan region as a whole has been considered an interesting destination by Chinese tourists in recent years.