France eyes better environment, security for Chinese tourists

PARIS - France has made efforts in enhancing security and simplifying visa procedures in a bid to attract more holidaymakers from its booming Chinese market, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said here Monday.

During a meeting with a Chinese business club, le Drian said that with a target of "zero incident," security at hotels popular with Chinese tourists had been reinforced, and more guides recruited.

The minister also mentioned the improvement of visa service that allows Chinese to get visa in only 48 hours in 15 places in China, "which are not concentrated solely around Beijing."

Le Drian hailed the recovering Chinese market that offered 1.8 million tourists in 2017.

"It's a lot. After the downturn following the attacks in 2015, the recovery is here," he said.

In order to win the lion's share of the Chinese market, France has vowed to make sure that tourists are "welcome and safe."

Furthermore, the minister noted the need to further diversify the domestic tourism activities in supplement to traditional famous sites in the French capital.