More Chinese to visit Italy, Switzerland

Joining the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would be a good choice for countries around the world as it brings joint economic development, cultural exchanges and jobs.

Release time : 2019-04-28 17:07:31

source : Global Times

China from Monday to April 30, during which the two countries will sign a memorandum on cooperation in third markets under the BRI.

Wang Yuting, a white-collar worker based in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu Province, booked a seven-day group travel package to Italy for the upcoming May Day holidays. "I have a more favorable impression toward Italy and Switzerland, as well as their people, when noticing the news of their participation in the BRI, which was top news everywhere. That's why I made the decision," Wang told the Global Times on Sunday.

"The trip will cost about 10,000 yuan ($1,492), more than half of my monthly salary, but I prefer to give that money to those who are willing to cooperate with China and recognize our culture," Wang said. She said that she changed her mind about going to Canada as the bilateral ties deteriorated because of the Huawei case.

More than tourism

Industry analysts noted that Chinese tourists' sentiment is likely to be affected by bilateral relationships between China and other countries. A warming political relationship will quickly trigger a tourism boom. Thus, countries and regions along the BRI routes are expected to greet increasing Chinese tourists.

Knowing the trend well, Chinese travel agencies have also designed more "BRI travel packages" to cater for that demand. China's CYTS Tours Holding Co said it has designed travel products covering more than 90 percent of the tourist destinations along the BRI routes, and it is also planning to design more in-depth travel packages to Europe, a focus of its business this year, according to a report the company sent to the Global Times on Sunday.

Song Ding, a research fellow at the Shenzhen-based China Development Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday that a tourism boom is just the trigger of the development of a whole industry chain, as tourism is the best and fastest way to boost exchanges between countries.

"Sales of