European agents welcome 2018 as EU-China Year for Tourism

chinese-tourists-brusselsChinese tourists taking a picture at the Manneken Pis statue in Brussels, Belgium

THE European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) has thrown its support behind the designation of 2018 as the EU-China Year for Tourism.

Said ETOA CEO Tom Jenkins: “China remains one of the most important future markets for European tourism, and that there is a designated year for tourism co-operation is of course to be welcomed.

“How Chinese visitors are welcomed and accommodated, how their expectations can be met is one of the central topics that the industry has to address: this initiative will help them do so.”

Added European Travel Commission (ETC) executive director Eduardo Santander: “The EU-China Tourism Year is a great opportunity for the European tourism industry to explore the Chinese market, but also learn how to attract Chinese visitors and offer them the best experience.”

A first meeting with EU tourism stakeholders on the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year programme will take place in the ETC headquarters in Brussels this month, while a discussion with a high level Chinese delegation is scheduled for October 25 in Beijing.

European destinations drew 10.1 million Chinese visitors in 2015, accounting for a 13 per cent share of all outbound travel from China.

The EU-China Year for Tourism was first declared by Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission and Li Keqiang, premier of the state council of China, at the opening of the EU-China summit on July 12.

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