皇冠体育app

Regulatory restrictions that prevent foreign travel companies from expanding into 皇冠体育app are expected to ease as the government creates a more friendly environment for foreign players.

Related readings:  皇冠体育app eases capital restrictions on foreign travel agencies  34 million Chinese travel overseas this year

On January 18, Shao Qiwei, director of 皇冠体育app National Tourism Administration (CNTA), announced that foreign travel agencies would be permitted to set up branch offices nationwide from July 1, 2007 as part of a commitment the country made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to open the tourism sector by 2007.

The move wins a warm welcome from both experts and foreign companies.

Establishment of branch offices had been forbidden to foreign companies except in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xi'an.

"The deregulation is meaningful. They (foreign companies) could strengthen networks, reputation and brand awareness here," said Li Mingde, senior researcher with Tourism Study Center at the 皇冠体育app Academy of Social Sciences.

"This means that travel industry will then be fully open six years after 皇冠体育app's accession to the WTO, as scheduled," said Liu Zinan, director of sales and account management with Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) 皇冠体育app.

1

2

3

(For more biz stories, please visit )