The number of Chinese travellers to Iceland has increased dramatically in recent years, growing by more than 170% since 2013. According to a report on Icelandic foreign relations, prepared by the Foreign Ministry, this growth is likely to continue in the coming years.
Read more: Chinese travellers most likely to be injured in car accidents in Iceland
The level of various economic relations between Iceland and China have increased dramatically, following the signing of a free-trade agreement with China. While exports to China are only 1.5% of total exports, they grew by nearly 100% between 2014 and 2015. The number of Chinese travellers who visited Iceland in 2015 was also 83% greater than in 2014. This increase has placed a significant strain on the Icelandic embassy in Peking, according to the report, which was submitted to parliament yesterday by the Foreign Minister, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson. Only two people work at the Icelandic embassy in Peking.
Read more: Most foreign travellers in 2015 were from the US
One of the barriers to growing tourism from China, the reports, argues, is the difficulty Chinese travellers have had to obtain a visa for travel to Iceland. Chinese laws on the operation of embassies, specifically where they are allowed to publish visas, are currently under review, and the report argues that when embassies in China will be allowed to open more service centres to issues visas, the processing of Visas to Chinese travellers will become easier, facilitating the further growth in their numbers.
The number of Chinese travellers to Iceland has increased dramatically in recent years, growing by more than 170% since 2013. According to a report on Icelandic foreign relations, prepared by the Foreign Ministry, this growth is likely to continue in the coming years.
Read more: Chinese travellers most likely to be injured in car accidents in Iceland
The level of various economic relations between Iceland and China have increased dramatically, following the signing of a free-trade agreement with China. While exports to China are only 1.5% of total exports, they grew by nearly 100% between 2014 and 2015. The number of Chinese travellers who visited Iceland in 2015 was also 83% greater than in 2014. This increase has placed a significant strain on the Icelandic embassy in Peking, according to the report, which was submitted to parliament yesterday by the Foreign Minister, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson. Only two people work at the Icelandic embassy in Peking.
Read more: Most foreign travellers in 2015 were from the US
One of the barriers to growing tourism from China, the reports, argues, is the difficulty Chinese travellers have had to obtain a visa for travel to Iceland. Chinese laws on the operation of embassies, specifically where they are allowed to publish visas, are currently under review, and the report argues that when embassies in China will be allowed to open more service centres to issues visas, the processing of Visas to Chinese travellers will become easier, facilitating the further growth in their numbers.
