Tourism winning the numbers game after eased visa policies

BELGRADE - When the mutual visa-free regime between Serbia and China came into effect early last year - making Serbia the first European country to lift visa requirement for Chinese nationals traveling to the country - other countries in the Balkan region followed suit.

This year, Chinese tourists will not have to apply for a visa to visit Albania during the peak tourist season from April 1 to Oct 30, while Bosnia and Herzegovina's mutual visa-free regime with China took effect on May 29.

Canceling or streamlining visa applications between China and Central and Eastern European countries is a pillar of the cooperation mechanism between the two sides that has brought tangible benefits to the public.