Authorities in Kazakhstan and China have reached a bilateral visa exemption agreement in order to ease the travel process for both territories’ citizens and help the tourism sector’s further recovery.
During the meeting held between the Kazakhstan President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in China, there were signed a total of 23 crucial agreements, also taking into account the mutual visa-free agreement, VisaGuide.World reports.
Such an announcement has been considered a significant step to enhance collaboration in the tourism industry, aiming to boost the number of international passengers between the two countries.
The plans to establish a visa-free regime were first announced in April this year, while an agreement in this regard has now been signed between the governments of both countries.
The recent decision means that, following the new announcement, citizens of both countries are eligible to enjoy visa-free travel for a period of more than 30 days. In addition, the visa exemption covers several purposes, also taking into account medical treatment, tourism, international transportation, as well as transit and business activities, among others.
Previously, authorities in Kazakhstan unfolded plans to expand visa-free travel with a total of 26 countries while stressing that it was holding talks in this regard in order to make such plans effective as soon as possible.
The announcement was confirmed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
The same Ministry announced that China, as well as Austria, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, as well as Bahrain, were among the countries with which authorities in Kazakhstan aim to reach a mutual visa-free travel agreement.
On May 4, the Ministry stressed that it is planning to take finalize such agreements as part of efforts to help the country’s travel and tourism industry. The same stress that reaching such agreements would also help the country to improve migration control by launching a new information system in order to register all internationals planning to reach this territory.
“Kazakhstan is interesting for foreign travelers, and the Ministry is working to fully reveal the country’s tourism potential, including by increasing the flow of incoming tourists. The Ministry makes efforts to improve migration control, for example, by launching the eQonaq information system for registering international visitors,” the spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan, Moldir Abdualiyeva, emphasized in this regard.
Kazakhstan’s tourism industry was subject to significant difficulties as a result of COVID-related restrictions; however, the country is attempting to open its doors to a large number of internationals in order to help this sector recover faster from the damages caused by COVID-19.
In addition, the figures of the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics revealed that for a period between January and September last year, the number of international tourists surpassed 3.4 million, thus accounting for a significant increase or 3.6 times more compared to 2021 statistics.
The post Kazakhstan & China Sign Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement in Bid to Boost Travel & Tourism appeared first on VisaGuide.World.
