The head of the European Parliament Delegation with China has promised to work toward more open and flexible travel terms for Chinese citizens wanting to visit the Schengen countries.
Jo Leinen, president of the delegation, said that it is trying its best to ensure that traveling to the 26 Schengen countries would be much easier for Chinese tourists, according to People Daily.
"Europe welcomes the tourists from China. I hope the visa regime will be flexible and more open so that Chinese may have a better access to Schengen countries," Leinen said.
Authorities started easing the visa application process on Oct. 27 for certain Chinese travelers, who include those entering the European countries for business, short-term professional training, involvement in cultural or sporting events, or paying a visit to Schengen Area-based friends and relatives.
These travelers are not required to furnish proof of hotel and flight bookings when applying for a visa, according to the report.
China is the first country to be given such a privilege, according to the European Union, owing to the continuous growth in the number of Chinese citizens traveling internationally.
The simplified procedure, however, does not apply to Chinese tourists.
In light of this, Leinen's delegation is looking to make it easier for all tourists to enter the Schengen countries.
"There are about 5 million Chinese tourists in Europe every year, and we have 300,000 Chinese students in Europe. We welcome Chinese tourists to discover Europe and the young people to study in our universities," Leinen said.
"I and my delegation will continue to work on the visa regime to make it more open and flexible for Chinese visitors," he continued.
The Schengen Area, created in 1995, is comprised of 26 European countries that is considered a single country for international travel purposes and, as such, implement and follow a common visa policy.
The countries include Spain, Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Netherands, Greece, Hungary and others.
The United Kingdom and Ireland have opted out of the deal.