Your current location:HOME >style >Spanish travel industry happy to see China's return as major tourist destination 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 10:09:36 Source: Internet compilationEdit:style
Spanish travel agencies also applaud China's visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revi
Spanish travel agencies also applaud China's visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revive the tourism sectors in China and Europe.
BARCELONA, Spain, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Professionals in Spain's travel industry are delighted about China's ongoing return to be a major tourist destination for Spanish tourists.
At the B-Travel tourism fair, which opened on Friday and closed on Sunday in Spain's Barcelona, exhibitors showcased diverse tourism products and packages to promote traveling in China.
"Our tour operators and travel agents are developing products and packages ... China has always been an important destination for Spanish tourists," Marti Sarrate, president of B-Travel and Spain's Corporate Association of Specialized Travel Agencies, told Xinhua at the fair.
After the pandemic, "we're very happy that it (China) has reactivated because it represents a significant level of quality tourism and more Spaniards are now visiting China," he added.
Spanish travel agencies also applaud China's visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revive the tourism sectors in China and Europe. China applied a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from five European countries in December, including Spain. Later in January and starting from March 14, China added eight more European countries in total to its visa-free policy list on a trial basis.
Aspasia Travel, which organizes a 15-day guided tour in China that includes visits to Chinese cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Kunming and Shanghai, said China's decision to exempt Spaniards with ordinary passports from requiring a visa helps them to sell their package holiday to the country.
"Right now we are making an effort to put China back on people's radar and we have to incentivize them to go there, and something that helps with incentive is the situation with visa-free travel," Aspasia Travel Director Adonis Rahmouni told Xinhua.
According to Spain's tourism agency Turespana, over 60 percent of direct flights linking China and Spain before the pandemic have been restored. From March 31, Air China will have daily flights between Barcelona and Beijing while Cathay Pacific plans to restore direct flights to Hong Kong from Barcelona in June.
According to data from the Spanish Statistical Office, over 380,000 people visited Spain from China last year. However, the figure is well below the level before the pandemic, when more than 700,000 Chinese tourists visited Spain in 2019.
"Chinese tourism is important for our region and is now in the process of returning to Spain, including Andalusia, Malaga and Costa del Sol," said Jorge Martin, the president of the Axarquia-Costa del Sol town coalition, which is located in the southern region of Andalusia, one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations.
(Editor:Wang Su)
Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds2024-05-21 09:25
Firefighters douse a blaze at a historic Oregon hotel famously featured in 'The Shining'2024-05-21 09:04
Stars waited late to find out they get playoff rematch against the defending Stanley Cup champions2024-05-21 08:54
Lottery 'loser' boyfriend, 39, who is fighting his ex2024-05-21 08:45
Mystery artist who erected signs comparing pothole2024-05-21 08:39
Tulsa athletic director Rick Dickson announces retirement2024-05-21 08:28
Owner of Bob Baffert2024-05-21 08:17
Probe underway into highway school bus fire that sent 10 students fleeing in New Jersey2024-05-21 08:06
Adams, Reyna, Turner, Ream are US concerns ahead of Copa America2024-05-21 07:35
Man dies in fire under Atlantic City pier near homeless encampment2024-05-21 07:25
Six killed in a 'foiled coup' in Congo, the army says2024-05-21 09:45
Convicted rapist charged with murder in killing of Connecticut visiting nurse, Joyce Grayson2024-05-21 09:23
Jameson Taillon comes off the injured list and pitches Cubs to 82024-05-21 09:23
China's new high2024-05-21 09:21
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University2024-05-21 08:58
Shocking moment group of yobs hurl racist abuse at train passengers2024-05-21 08:55
Idaho group explores ballot initiative for abortion rights, reproductive care2024-05-21 08:27
Miles Russell is 15. He sets Korn Ferry Tour record as the youngest player to make the cut2024-05-21 08:19
Yu Darvish extends scoreless innings streak to 25 in Padres' 92024-05-21 08:10
Priest resigns from Michigan church after protests over his criticism of a gay author2024-05-21 07:47