China and EU agree tourism pact

The European Union and China have come to an agreement that will allow a massive increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Europe. According to the EU Business website, the agreement will make it much easier for Chinese travellers to visit European countries by simplifying visa arrangements and giving “approved visitor status” to Chinese tourists, meaning that tour groups from China will now be allowed to visit EU member states. The EU external affairs commissioner Chris Patten reportedly said: “I look forward to seeing more Chinese tourists here and I hope that many will take up the opportunity to travel. Human contacts really do make a difference and I believe this new agreement will help Europe and China to understand wach other better.” The website reports that even in 2002, with only individual trips from China to Europe permitted, there were some 650,000 Chinese visitors. The EU statement reportedly quotes World Tourism Organisation figures that forecast some 100 million outbound tourists travelling from China each year. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad