CEBU CITY – The Chinese Consulate General in Cebu welcomed the Philippines’ limited visa-free access for Chinese nationals.

Chinese Consul General Zhang Zhen said the 14-day visa-free entry for Chinese nationals will definitely help boost tourism in Cebu and other parts of the country.

Zhang said the Philippines remains to be one of the preferred destinations of Chinese nationals and the visa-free policy makes travel easier and more convenient.

“Without the visa requirement, Chinese tourists can come more easily and more conveniently. This is a very constructive move,” Zhang told reporters on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Zhang added that this policy will give the Philippines an advantage over other Asian destinations.

While the visa-free entry will make the Philippines more attractive for Chinese tourists, Zhang said the country’s strength still lies in its people.

“In my eyes, Filipinos are very warm-hearted and open-minded. This is a Philippine strength, and this is what Chinese tourists favor,” she said.

What makes the Philippines attractive for Chinese tourists is its reputation as an English-speaking destination.

“Many Chinese like to learn English, and speaking English is one of the Filipino strengths,” she said. “I personally know many Chinese families who wish to come to the Philippines to learn English, and over the past years, more and more families have already been coming.”

Zhang added that the Philippines has so much to offer in terms of tourist attractions but it has to improve its infrastructure such as air connectivity, traffic management, Mandarin-language services, security, and an overall tourist-friendly environment.

“All of these are crucial in attracting more Chinese tourists,” Zhang added.

Improving its infrastructure is crucial as the Philippines faces stiff competition from other Southeast Asian countries, she added.

“Almost every country in Southeast Asia is trying its best to attract Chinese tourists. And not only here – worldwide, Chinese tourists are very popular,” Zhang said.

Following the 14-day visa-free policy, Zhang is hoping that discussions for more direct flights between China and Cebu would resume.

Zhang is also looking forward to further strengthening people-to-people exchanges.

“More exchanges mean people can learn from each other better,” Zhang said. “We hope to see more Filipinos visiting China and more Chinese coming to Cebu.”