Chinese welcomed

August 28, 2014 in Regional

GastonBrowne-ChineseVisitorsTourism and business officials are welcoming the news that Antigua & Barbuda will see more Chinese visitors, as visa requirements will be a thing of the past.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s plan “to eliminate the visa procedures with respect to citizens of the People’s Republic of China,” is being hailed as positive step.

The announcement follows the agreement with Chinese officials, on Tuesday, in which the nation is slated to receive some US$36 million for developmental projects.

Browne noted the, “requirement for Chinese citizens will stimulate tourism and business, as well as enhance people-to-people contact.”

In lauding the proposal, Chairman of the Antigua Tourism Association Andrew Headley said, “We at the Hotel Association will welcome any such move to reduce the bureaucracy and the red-tape for people getting into the country,” he noted. “That in turn, can only help the tourism sector by potentially increasing the number of arrivals into the country.”

Headley said while more research needs to be done on the Chinese tourism market, the Antiguan authorities must take marketing in the country seriously.