On Monday, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Kostas Koumis, and his Chinese counterpart, Li Qun, Deputy Minister for Tourism and Culture, engaged in a fruitful discussion at the Ministry of Tourism. The purpose of their meeting was to exchange ideas, opinions, and proposals aimed at further strengthening the cooperation between Cyprus and China in the tourism sector.

According to a statement released by the Press and Information Office, Mr. Li Qun was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus and a small delegation. It is worth noting that this marked the first visit of a Chinese government official to the Ministry of Tourism.

During the meeting, both parties agreed to schedule a virtual conference between the two ministries in the second fortnight of July. That conference will aim to foster communication and cooperation, facilitating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to solidify their joint efforts.

One of the key points emphasized by Mr. Koumis was the need for direct air connectivity between Cyprus and China. Recognizing the unique characteristics and advantages of Cyprus as a tourist destination, he expressed the desire to establish seamless travel options to facilitate tourism between the two countries.

In addition to air connectivity, Mr. Koumis suggested including educational and sports tourism as focal points of the upcoming conference and the Memorandum of Understanding signing. He said that Cyprus has been actively working to position itself as an attractive destination for individuals seeking to enhance their language skills, making educational tourism a pertinent aspect to explore. Furthermore, Mr. Koumis highlighted the potential of sports tourism by mentioning previous visits of Chinese sports teams to Cyprus for training purposes.

To further enhance cultural exchange, Mr. Koumis suggested the development of a comprehensive plan to promote the gastronomy of each country. Recognizing the significance of culinary experiences in attracting tourists, he extended an invitation to his Chinese counterpart to participate in Cyprus' annual tourism exhibition.

Following the meeting, the Cypriot Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude for the visit of the Chinese Deputy Minister, considering it a great honor for the Ministry of Tourism. He underscored the opportunity it presented to explore the possibility of establishing closer cooperation with the People's Republic of China in the field of tourism.

Similarly, Mr. Li Qun conveyed his appreciation for the warm and friendly atmosphere throughout the meeting and round table discussion with his Cypriot counterpart. Recognizing the shared historical and cultural heritage of Cyprus and China, he emphasized the importance of leveraging these commonalities as significant tourist assets to attract visitors from both nations.

Concluding the statement, Mr. Li Qun extended an invitation to Mr. Koumis to visit China, acknowledging the potential for further collaboration and cultural exchange between the two countries.

This meeting marks a significant step towards strengthening the partnership between Cyprus and China in the tourism sector, fostering mutual understanding, and promoting tourism opportunities for both countries.

After nearly three years of travel disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese citizens are slowly regaining the ability to travel without lengthy quarantine requirements upon their return. However, despite the relaxation of restrictions in China, Europe has not yet experienced a tourism boom from Chinese visitors. Various factors contribute to the limited travel, including high infection rates in China and visa restrictions imposed by European countries. Nonetheless, industry experts anticipate the return of Chinese tourists to Europe, given their significant spending power and desire to explore cultural attractions.