The European Union is working on "flexible rules" for visa applications to woo Chinese travelers in a bid to boost the region's tourism industry.
The European Union will introduce more flexible rules for visa applications for Chinese travelers, according to a signed declaration for visa facilitation between the EU and China.
The declaration was signed between Antonio Tajani, vice president of the European Commission, and an official from China's National Tourism Administration.
"The existing visa application system for Chinese is very time-consuming," Tajani said. "It is very important for the EU to have more Chinese visitors."
The tourism industry is crucial for the EU in terms of creating jobs and boosting economic growth, especially given the region's debt crisis, Tajani said, adding that the declaration can also help bring more visitors to the Universal Expo 2015 in Milan,
Italy.
According to the China Tourism Academy, some 200 million Chinese nationals may travel abroad annually by 2020, up from 82 million in 2012.
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