A group of 20 tour operators and media from the People’s Republic of China were told by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo that “Malta is open for business with China and welcomes Chinese tourists in our country which will soon be part of the Schengen and eurozone areas of the European Union”.

Referring to the two-destination tourism, between Belgium and Malta, being promoted by Hainan Airlines in collaboration with Air Malta and its general sales agent in China, World Aviation Services and China Express, Dr Frendo said that such touristic activity was facilitated by the fact that the Schengen visa is valid for all the EU countries of the Schengen area and by Malta soon joining the eurozone which will allow, from 1 January, Chinese tourists to use the same currency in both countries.

The delegation, led by Malta’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Karl Xuereb, includes representatives from top travel players in China such as Hainan Airlines CITS, CITIC Travel, Air China Travel Service and representatives from leading media players such as Life Style Media Group and Kai Zhou International Media.

Hainan Airlines in collaboration with Air Malta are promoting Chinese travel to Belgium and Malta using Hainan Airlines between Beijing and Brussels and Air Malta between Brussels and Valletta. With the support of Malta’s Embassy in Beijing the two airlines and their representatives organized this familiarisation visit to Malta for tour operators and media companies mainly from Beijing. In this four-day education tour, delegates have visited leading hotels and catering establishments, language schools and educational institutions as well as Valletta, the Three Cities and Gozo and historic sites such as St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Tarxien Temples.