New policy to create cosmopolitan city

Chengdu's 72-hour visa free policy will bring more business opportunities, said international companies and trade unions in the southwestern metropolis.

"Of course it will facilitate trips of multinationals' overseas employees, especially technical experts and top management," said Gu Yi, Intel's public affairs director for west China.

The policy, which started last September, allows citizens from 51 countries in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania to spend three days in Chengdu if they have valid visas and onward flight tickets.

"In fact Chengdu has served as the venue of several of our global meetings this year," said Gu.

A Chengdu native, she said the policy will make the "historical, comfortable" city more international.

A spokesman from Dell Inc said the visa-free policy "has an immediate and positive influence on the company's business development" in the city now that the IT giant has established a global hub of operations there.

A total of 252 Fortune 500 companies had a presence in the city by the end of 2013, according to Chengdu's investment promotion commission.

Multinational companies are encouraged to invite their overseas employees to make use of the policy.

Zhao Yun, chairwoman of British Chamber of Commerce Southwest China, said many of her colleagues find the policy very convenient.

Data from the Chengdu entry and exit administration showed that as of March 31, about 100 travelers on their way to other countries spent time in the region, in accordance with the policy. Most were from the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Tourists from the UK are expected to increase as the British Airways has increased the number of direct flights from London to Chengdu from three to five a week since May 5.

Chengdu is the airline's third destination in China after Beijing and Shanghai. The city already has some 70 international flight routes from and to other parts of the world.

Local authorities have come up with a range of services to make visits easier for foreigners making use of the policy.

A bilingual call center was set up and 20 training sessions were held by late March for workers in the hospitality industry.

The government said it could extend visits of people who want to stay longer than three days after they file an application.

Plans for more duty-free stores at the airport and in downtown Chengdu are also on the agenda.

Gu at Intel said the government was doing a good job but she called for more efforts to improve translation of traffic signs and billboards.

She said locals should be encouraged to speak Mandarin to improve the city's appeal as many speak Sichuan dialect in their daily life.

Li Zhiyong, deputy dean of the tourism institute at Sichuan University, agreed. Li said the government should improve English services and roll out more tourism products for international travelers.

The hotel industry in Chengdu has braced itself for an influx of overseas guests, with more and more international brands opening in the city.

One of the latest is the St Regis Chengdu, which is due to open in June. Its general manager Richard Deutl said his colleagues were coming up with short-stay packages for business and leisure travelers.

Chris Clark, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu said his hotel will soon offer tailor-made products including the "Chengdu Experience Package", which will provide information on where to go, so visitors can get the most out of their 72 hour stay.

lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 05/16/2014 page23)