Mur Lura
PAVING THE WAY FOR TOURISTS FROM CHINA
pr1128
26/07/2001
26/07/2001
| Following the signing of the Sino-Maltese agreement on Tourism His | Excellency Mr. Yang Guirong, the Chinese Ambassador to Malta, today met Tourism Minister Michael Refalo for discussions on the broad lines of the agreement’s implementation. |
| When addressing the media, Minister Refalo thanked | President de Marco for raising the subject during his visit to China, as well as President Jiang Zemin for approving Malta’s request to be designated as a destination country for Chinese citizens travelling abroad. |
| Minister Micheal Refalo said that Malta is the first | country in Europe to be designated an approved destination country by the Chinese Government which means that Malta will receive visitors from China, with the approval of the Chinese Government. |
| After recalling that the subject was first discussed | when Mr. He Gwangwei, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, was in Malta in May 1998, Minister Refalo recalled that following further representations made to the Chinese Embassy in Malta and through H. E. Mr. Saviour Borg, Malta’s Ambassador to China, the subject was discussed in greater detail during Minister Refalo’s visit to China in October 2000. |
| "On that occasion I met Vice Premier of the | State Council, Mr. Qian Qichen, whose portfolio includes tourism, during the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Tourism Fair. Vice Premier Qian Qichen has visited Malta three times and formed part of President Jiang Zemin’s delegation. |
| Following that meeting I discussed the possibility of | Malta being designated as a destination country with Mr. He Gwangwei. I am very pleased that the diplomatic part has been successfully concluded and that we have now agreed to proceed and implement the agreement." |
| The Minister said that the morning’s meeting was | the first in a series following which the Tourism, Police and Immigration Authorities will meet on the detailed implementation of the agreement. |
| "We will now forward to the Chinese Tourism | Authorities a list of all licensed incoming travel agencies and, without leaving any out, will highlight the names of those agencies who express an interest in doing business with their counter-parts in China. We will not close the door on anybody and will refer information as and when we receive such expressions of interest." |
| On their part the Chinese Authorities will provide a | list of 65 designated travel agencies which specialise in outbound tourism. The agreement will be monitored by tourism authorities in both countries to see that the legitimate rights and interests of tourists are protected. A reciprocal complaint hot line will be established. |
| Chinese visitors will be travelling in groups and | will each be led by a tour leader. "We have agreed to simplify visa applications and it is the intention of both Malta and China to give the green light as soon as the relevant preparations are completed. Following my visit to China last year we have hosted a small number of Chinese visitors who come to study English and further their education at the University. We have also offered two scholarships at ITS." |
| Minister Refalo said that President Jiang Zemin’s | visit was covered by a number of Chinese TV stations and many journalists including the national station CCTV. In the coming days Malta will be enjoying extensive coverage in China as President Jiang Zemin visited many cultural and other sites of interest to visitors. |
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