“I consider the direct air connection between the Czech Republic and China to be one of the main pillars of further development not only of tourist exchange, but also of business relations department“Kamil Jankovský told the Ministry of Regional Development of the E15 daily after his visit to China.

The airport agrees and reminds that it has the same thing. “Václav Havel Airport is very comfortable, the transfer from Terminal 1 to Schengen Terminal 2 requires a minimum of minutes,” said Chairman of the Board Jiří Pos. According to him, the connection, as well as other E15 sources, could not work for two years at the earliest, after the conference on the division of slots in 2013. According to him, the Czech negotiators are already working on this topic with China Eastern and China Southern. Czech Airlines does not have a large enough aircraft for the intended business.

Other countries in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe are also grinding their teeth on flights to China, which will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Middle Kingdom. The Czech Republic has money from the CzechTourism agency to support the new air bridge. “In practice, we and the relevant airline would give money to promote the Czech Republic in a place from which passengers to Europe would gather,” said the head of CzechTourism, Rostislav Vondruška. The specific amount has not yet been dropped.

More and more people are coming from China

The number of visitors from China, who are characterized by the fact that they come to more than one European country, is increasing every year. Last year, 70 million of them traveled, in three years it could be a million hundred. In the Czech Republic, tourism generates 4.4 to 5.2 percent of GDP.

Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Libor Sečka also considers the recommended flights important. “If we can really get to the end and find partners, it will mean a dramatic increase in tourism and a much greater business cooperation opportunities“He stressed.

According to him, there is definitely interest on the Chinese side. “This follows, among other things, from the cooperation program for Central and Eastern Europe, which has political support, and it is possible to work very well in China,” recalls Sečka.

CzechTourism opens new branches in China

The expansion of the CzechTourism agency, which operates in Beijing, is also intended to strengthen ties with China. “We are preparing to open a CzechTourism representative office in Shanghai and in one more place, it could be Honkgkong. We are also disproportionately at the first address, “confirmed director Vondruška.

In mid-November, Minister for Regional Development Kamil Jankovský visited China on the occasion of the largest tourism fair, China International Travel Mart. He flew to Beijing at the invitation of the Chinese government. The delegation included representatives of CzechTourism, the Czech-Chinese Chamber of Mutual Cooperation, Václav Havel Airport, the Prague City Hall and a representative of Liberty International, one of the largest tour operators between Europe and Asia. According to the Minister, if air traffic between China and the Czech Republic can be launched, administrative simplification for issuing visas should follow, so that it does not stand in the way of tourist and business potential.

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