The introduction of a visa-free policy for visitors from some countries has made niche destinations in China more open to international tourism, Cristiano Ballotti, head of East Asia at the Italian Tourism Board, said in an interview on Friday. He said that he can liberate his sexuality.
Besides popular destinations frequented by international travelers such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an in Shaanxi province and Guilin in Guangxi, scenic spots along the ancient Silk Road and around the Yangtze River Delta are very popular with Italian tourists. It’s attractive. Vallotti said.
In December, China introduced visa-free entry for visitors from Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain. According to Xinhua news agency, Switzerland was also added to the list of visa-free agreements in the January update.
The new policy will allow ordinary passport holders from European countries to enjoy visa-free travel in China for up to 15 days.
Leonardo Cozzi, an Italian national, plans to visit China in February. He emphasized that the policy is having a positive impact on travel decisions, especially for young tourists.
“Young people prefer to leave their travel plans until the last minute. If the destination requires a visa in advance, they may choose another location,” Cozzi says.
In 2017, Cozzi started planning her trip to China two months in advance, including a three-week visa application process.
“It’s much more convenient now. This time I applied for a one-month tourist visa and received it in just five days,” Cozzi said. He plans to visit Chongqing in southwestern China during the upcoming Spring Festival.
Mr. Barotti, from the Italian Tourism Board, cited Chongqing and the neighboring province of Sichuan, as well as the western Hunan province in central China, which is characterized by a mountainous route between the Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang regions and the southwest region, as an extremely promising tourist destination. Ta. It connects China’s Yunnan Province and Xizang Autonomous Region, and connects cities such as Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Lhasa.
Cultural tourism is popular in both countries, but for many Italian tourists, traveling to China is considered a “long-distance” trip, as it involves not only covering distance but also overcoming language and cultural differences. will be done. To alleviate this, tourists often opt for tour groups, Vallotti said.
He added that the visa-free policy is an important step to boost tourism. He said the sector should put more emphasis on brand promotion to attract more foreign tourists.
For example, hot pot is known in Italy, but people may not associate the popular spicy dish with Chongqing, he noted.
He suggested promoting cooperation among businesses and creating more tourism products to meet the diversifying needs of international tourists.
better understanding
Loredana Cursano and her husband Giuseppe Russo, who live near Milan’s Chinatown, have chosen Wenzhou, a city in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, as their next destination in China.
“Wenzhou is the hometown of many Chinese who immigrated to Italy. I want to see the hometowns of my Chinese friends,” said Crusano. “A 15-day visa-free trip is just the right time to truly explore the city.”
Her views on promoting intercultural understanding are in line with President Xi Jinping’s repeated emphasis on opening up and people-to-people exchanges.
To that end, China is making continuous efforts to promote a high level of opening-up, increase the mobility of Chinese as well as foreigners, and promote people-to-people exchanges, Xinhua News Agency said.
On January 11, China’s National Immigration Administration implemented five more measures to simplify procedures for foreigners visiting China and make it easier for them to travel for business, education, tourism and other purposes.
For Mr. Crusano, a turning point in his view of China came in 1994, when he visited Beijing, Shanghai, and Guilin. She pointed out that the real China is different from the common perception in Europe.
Inspired by that first trip, Cursano recognized the opportunity for cooperation between China and Italy and encouraged her daughter Clotilde, now 15, to study Chinese.
Crusano said that with her daughter’s help, her family will be able to communicate better with locals this time.
The family aims to explore further into the countryside in search of an even more authentic Chinese experience. They are also considering sending Clotilde to China for further research.
“We use our eyes when we first travel to a country, but then we use our minds,” Cursano said.
