ST_20141009_ETTOURISM09_724351e.jpg (Photo : www.straitstimes.com)
The 2014 Germany Promotion Tour was recently held in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Beijing to promote new visa application policies and tourism. Twenty-two German tourism agencies, shopping centers and hotels joined the promotion tour. The participating parties include the Berlin Travel Agency, Global Blue Germany GmbH, Lufthansa Group and the Dusseldork Marketing and Tourist Board.
The German National Tourist Board and authorities from the German embassy in Beijing discussed about the newest application policy for the Schengen area where only a common visa is needed to travel as well as Germany's tourism plans.
Germany is planning to open six more visa application centers that will process Schengen visa applications in China. The country already has visa centers in Shenyang, Chendu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.
Schengen visa centers in China will be using the collective Visa Information System starting May 2015. The system is a large database shared between officials of Schengen's 26 states.
It will help in simplifying visa application procedures and checks at the Schengen area's external borders. Travelers who wish to apply will be asked to provide their biometric data such as fingerprints.
The officials from the German embassy in Beijing said that the utilization of biometric technology will aid in the protection of visa applicants and holders against identity theft.
The application of biometric technology is commonly used globally and in the European Union to increase the security of travel documents. The German embassy said that more efforts will be made to ease and hasten the Schengen visas application process. Switzerland, Italy, France and Germany are the top four destinations in Europe that Chinese travelers prefer.
According to the German National Tourist Board, Chinese tourists in Germany travel most to Cologne, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich.
The second biggest tourism market for Germany is Asia with its 2013 market share of 11 percent.
For 2015, Germany is planning to emphasize German customs and traditions, including the country's cuisine, culture, lifestyle and arts, in its tourism promotional projects.
German National Tourist Board director in Beijing Li Zhaohui said that Chinese travelers like Germany's scenic spots, museums and its tasty cuisine.
