Georgia Plans Visa-Free Travel for Chinese Citizens

TBILISI – Georgia implement a visa-free regime for Chinese passport holders, Georgian National Tourism Head Giorgi Chogovadze said at a meeting Monday in China’s capital Beijing with his local counterpart, Chairman Li Jinzao.

The two parties also discussed the development of bilateral cooperation and developing Georgia’s tourism sector. The sides agreed to continue consultations on the renewal of an agreement on visa-free travel that was originally signed by Georgia and the People’s Republic of China in 1994

Li expressed his full support for Georgia’s tourism plans pertaining to China.

The announcement of a revised visa-free regime for Chinese nationals comes at a time when Tbilisi and Beijing look to significantly boost economic relations. Georgia views future Chinese investment into its tourism infrastructure as a main priority in the years ahead.

Georgia registered 2,506 visitors from China during the first quarter of 2016, a 66.7 per cent year-on-year increase.

By Ana Akhalaia

Edited by Nicholas Waller

Photo:ThePolitics.org