China Travel Forum

[Omar]

Africa has become the hot new destination for Chinese citizens to travel abroad. Our reporter has learned from major travel agencies in Beijing that touring parties to Africa during the Spring Festival have been all booked up.

Lin Bo, an official from China International Travel Service, says that although the number of people traveling to Africa has not yet reached 5% of the total number of tourists traveling abroad, there is a steady increase each year. And the potential market is still large. According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Service, 110,000 Chinese citizens went to Africa in 2005 for personal reasons, double that of the previous year. Currently 16 countries are open for Chinese citizens to travel abroad in Africa. Egypt, South Africa and Kenya are the hottest, while new routes are still under way.

It is quite easy for tourists to go through formalities for obtaining a visa. The visa can be issued within seven working days at most, as African countries welcome Chinese tourists on the whole. According to Ms. Zheng, deputy manager from China Travel Service, facilities for tourists in Africa are also good. There are many multi-star hotels in Africa equipped with all the necessary modern facilities. The major limitation for African tours might only be the traveling expense, as the prices of air tickets are still high. Ms. Zheng confirms, however, that efforts are being made to lower travel costs through further cooperation with airline companies.

As a fact, African countries stress the importance of the Chinese market. According to a visa official from the Kenyan Embassy in China, tourism has become the most important pillar industry in Kenya, attracting large numbers of foreign tourists each year. Kenya pays great attention to the Chinese market, as Chinese travelers are not many, but the annual increase is hugely promising. The future for the Chinese tourist market is still optimistic.

Chinese administration emphasizes in the Documentation on China's Policy towards Africa from January 12th that China will continue to encourage Chinese tourist groups to Africa, listing more African countries as new destinations.

Ms. Liu has already experienced an African tour; she liked it very much. "I was really impressed by seeing the primitive tribal groups in Kenya. We even had the wonderful experience of living in the tree! Africa might bring most people to think of disease or war, but it is only when you step on the continent yourself that you will see we really know very little about Africa."