Red chip company China Travel International Investment has announced plans to build China’s largest hot-spring resort in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, reported South China Morning Post. The company said it had signed an agreement with Zhuhai government to buy a 2.7 sq km site for Yn40m.
Managing director Shen Zhuying said that the site was chosen for its high quality undersea hot spring and because of the city’s proximity to Hong Kong. He added that tourism accounts for 21 per cent of Zhuhai’s gross domestic product, compared with a national average of just 5 per cent.
EU wary on illegal immigrant issue Travel agents may lose their licence to organise foreign tours if tour members leave the group and stay abroad, according to new rules announced by the State Council and due to come into effect this month. In recent months, foreign diplomats in South Korea, Thailand and other countries have reported several cases of Chinese tourists seeking asylum after leaving organised tours, said South China Morning Post.
The EU is in talks with Beijing on the possible opening up of Europe to Chinese visitors, reported the Financial Times. However, the EU ambassador in Beijing, Dr Klaus Ebermann, has insisted that any agreement must include a clause that would allow for the immediate return of any Chinese tourists caught overstaying their visa. Because of growing public unease in Europe about the high number of illegal immigrants, the EU is striving to form a common asylum and immigration policy.
China was reported to be unhappy about the inclusion of such a clause because it had not agreed to a similar deal with other countries. China only allows tourism for its citizens to visit certain approved destination countries, most of which are in Asia.