No hope for European tours in May Day
6/4/2004 17:31
Tourists who want to travel to Europe in the coming May holiday might be
disappointed as the 12 EU countries haven't been officially opened to Chinese
people traveling on their own, the Shanghai Evening Post reported
today.
Since the 12 EU nations that have signed tourism memos with the
Chinese government haven't been officially opened to Chinese people who travel
at their own expense, local travel agencies currently cannot organize European
tours, said Huang Guangrong, an official with the Shanghai Tourism
Administrative Commission.
Many concrete policies and procedures are
currently being planned, Huang pointed out, adding that in Europe, only Germany
and Malta have been opened to Chinese residents.
Even though related
circulars will be issued soon, there is too little time to organize tours to
Europe in the coming May Day holiday, he said.
"At present, travel agencies
can only organize business trips to most European countries, but we are
designing travel itineraries and products for self-paid tours," said Yu, a
spokesman with the outbound department of the Shanghai China Travel Service.
Visa procedures are expected to be simplified if the EU countries are opened
to Chinese citizens, said an industry analyst with the Shanghai Airlines Tours
International Co Ltd.
However, the delay has not prevented European nations
from holding promotions in Shanghai. Following four northern European countries,
Bavaria of Germany held tourism promotions in the city, with Lufthansa, Munich
Airport and many German hotels introducing their special products and services
at the promotion. As of March 29, Lufthansa opened two direct scheduled flights
a day from Shanghai to Munich.
Yesterday, the Switzerland Tourism Bureau,
although not a member of the 12 EU tourism boards, together with its travel
agencies and airports, held large tourism promotions in the city,
Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news
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