Authorities implement new plan to increase travel,, promote cultureTourism authorities in Guangdong province have planned to develop high-end short tours for foreigners, as the provincial capital has become the third Chinese city to allow foreign visitors to stay for 72 hours without a visa.Sources with the Civil Aviation Administration of China said the State Council, China?s cabinet, has approved a 72-hour visa-free transit policy for Guangzhou, an important aviation transport center in South China.Insiders said the policy will greatly boost tourism in Guangdong and the local economy.The tourism authority in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, has identified some routes focusing on famous sites.The authority has also called on local tourism agencies to develop tailored routes for foreign visitors.The visa-free policy will greatly boost local tourism and promote the local culture, the Guangzhou Tourism Administration said.About 2,000 foreign passengers transit each day via China Southern Airlines at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, according to the tourism authority.Zou Yingping, a media officer at China Southern Airlines,, said it has not been announced when the policy will take effect."But we have already prepared for the policy. And we have started to study the possibilities of developing some products that are tailored to foreign visitors," Zou told.Sources with the southern airline carrier said it has asked some managers to learn from the experiences in Shanghai, where the 72-hour visa-free policy took effect earlier this year.Since Jan 1, travelers from 45 countries can make 72-hour visa-free visits in Beijing and Shanghai.Rubber Duck falls into Victoria HarborChina Garden Expo gearing up for visitors Previous Page 1 2 Next PagePrevious Page 1 2 Next Page
Dec 27---Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday commenced implementing a single visa scheme in a move to encourage more foreign tourists and business people to these Southeast Asian nations, according to a press release from Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The single visa scheme is under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) framework, initiated in 2003 by five ASEAN countries, namely Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.The Thai-Cambodian single visa is viewed as a pilot project of the ACMECS member states.The press release said the ACMECS single visa is available at diplomatic and consular missions of Cambodia and Thailand. "With the issuance of the ACMECS single visa by one country, either Cambodia or Thailand, the holders of this visa are authorized to enter both Cambodia and Thailand,"it said. "The visa costs 20 U.S. dollars for a single entry and is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance."It added that 35 countries and regions are eligible to apply for the visa including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, China's Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, India, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait,Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.The launching of the single visa was made after the 8th Thai- Cambodian Joint Committee meeting in Bangkok on Wednesday, which was co-chaired by Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong.China's Macao embraces peak tourist season amid holidays Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver
