2018年CRI 2018 China-EU Tourism Year to highlight lesser-known destinations

 

The 2018 China-EU Tourism Year is now officially underway. The European Union's Ambassador to China says the initiative aims to bridge cultural understandings by promoting lesser-known travel destinations on both sides.

00:00/03:36 The latest official data show that nearly 3.5 million Chinese nationals visited European Union member states in 2016, injecting 11.5 billion US dollars to the local economy. Meanwhile, more than 3.1 million EU citizens came to China that year, spending about 14 billion dollars here.

Now the tourism year initiative aims to further promote that positive momentum¹ - not only in terms of increasing the number of visits, but also by developing sustainable tourism, bilateral² investment opportunities, and facilitating visa negotiations³ and air connectivity. 

The EU Ambassador to China, Hans Dietmar Schweisgut, says a major highlight of the initiative is to promote destinations that are considered "hidden gems⁴" to visitors from both sides.

"The idea of this year of tourism between China and Europe is not just to put the limelight on places which are really well known. In fact, one of the aims is really to draw attention of tourists to sometimes lesser-known destinations," says Schweisgut.

The Ambassador says that will be done with the development of more specific tourism packages focused on secondary destinations on both sides, as well as cultural events to promote those places. Both China and the EU have agreed to highlight each other's culture during this year. In early March, a number of major European landmarks⁵ will be illuminated⁶ by lights of red, the color of the Chinese national flag, to mark the Chinese Lantern Festival, the last day of the Lunar New Year celebrations in China. Similarly, in early May, a number of famous Chinese sites will shine in blue of the EU flag, to make the "EU Day."

The EU Ambassador says another major component⁷ of the Tourism Year is also to facilitate business opportunities on both sides.

"But it obviously brings in business associations, the European Tourism Commission, and private actors and stakeholders to organize a multitude of events of business-business meetings, because obviously there is also a strong economic side to it. Tourism is an important economic factor in many European countries, but obviously also increasingly so in China," says the Ambassador. 

Programs for the Tourism Year include the first China-EU Tourism Business Summit, which has led to around 200 new partnership⁸ deals.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Schweisgut points out that it is important to tailor to the changing needs of Chinese visitors, who are increasingly seeking more personal experiences while traveling abroad. You Yang, a Beijing-based media professional, is planning a European vacation later this year.

"My husband and I are planning our honeymoon⁹ this April. We have ten days in Europe. We will arrive in the Netherlands, and drive to Belgium, then to Paris, and Switzerland before ending it in Italy. I am very much looking forward to visiting the French town of Chamonix Mont Blanc. It's a famous ski resort with fairytale like sceneries in the Alps," explains You. 

The China-EU Tourism Year was first announced in 2016 by Chinese Premier¹⁰ Li Keqiang and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. An official launch ceremony was held on January 19, 2018 in the Italian city of Venice, also the birthplace of Marco Polo, the ancient Venetian merchant and explorer famous for his travels to China.

1 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

5 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

6 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

7 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

8 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

9 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

10 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。