Cyprus may enlist the services of private providers to issue visas in China in a bid to attract more tourists and business, Cypriot media reported on Friday.
Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Alexandros Zenon was quoted as saying that decisions were made at a meeting on Thursday on alternative ways which will help develop relations between Cyprus and China in the sectors of tourism, investment and enterprising.
Zenon said the issuing of visas to Chinese nationals wishing to visit Cyprus for any reason presents serious problems as Cyprus has only one embassy in Beijing and distances in China are preventing applicants from personally submitting their visa applications.
"The processing of applications locally by private providers rather than going through the consulate is a practice already applied by Cyprus in other countries and is also used by other countries," Zenon said when asked whether a second diplomatic mission could be set up in another city in China.
He also said that the internet could not be used for obtaining visas. "Because there is a detailed European regulation on these issues, we cannot escape from these procedures. In this context, we will see what practical solutions can exist to facilitate our common goal," said Zenon.
He said that facilitating the issue of visas is a way of attracting tourists and business from China. "China is one of the largest economies today and it is natural that it is the subject of interest for the government," he said.
Cyprus Tourism Organization President Angelos Loizou said that the current annual number of tourists from China is about 1,000.
"We discussed ways to increase the number of Chinese tourists to 300,000 a year," said Loizou. He said this target is feasible if "proper businessmen" are found to organize the business part of the project and come up with solutions to the access issue.
Ministry of Transport sources have said that initial consultations have taken place for starting flights from China.
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