China's visa-free policy for Croatia poised to boost tourism, business ties

China's recent decision to extend its visa-free policy to Croatia and eight other nations is expected to boost inbound tourism, with the simplified travel process making China a more accessible and attractive destination.

China announced last week that ordinary passport holders from nine more countries -- Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan -- will enjoy visa-free entry on a one-year trial basis starting Nov. 30. This brings the total number of countries eligible for visa-free access to China to 38.

Under this arrangement, visitors can stay in China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit.

Zagreb, one of Croatia's top tourist destinations, typically attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors during the summer months. However, the rainy season often leads to a slowdown for local tourist agencies.

The tides are about to turn. Anticipating a spike in bookings for tours to China following the introduction of visa-free travel for Croatian citizens, agencies in the city are buzzing with activity as Croatians seek out captivating and exotic destinations at competitive rates.

"It would be much easier for our customers just to go without a China visa. So, we do expect a lot of China, new destinations, and more cities to visit from Croatia. And also, there will be a part of the people that want to visit China and expand their businesses," said Gabrijela Koščica, CEO of Idea Travel.

Business professionals also welcome this development, as it promises smoother personal interactions crucial for sealing business deals. However, analysts caution that the landscape for business travel may not be as straightforward as in the tourism sector.

"Unused opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries are actually very big. The policies of the current government, however, are subordinated to the goals imposed by Washington and Brussels, and they perceive China as a competitor. So, for private companies this will be a great opportunity, while for state-owned companies it would depend upon the state policy," said journalist Boris Rašeta.

The visa-free travel program is scheduled to run until the end of 2025, offering ample time for stakeholders to evaluate its advantages, which extend beyond tourism and potentially herald new avenues of cooperation.

China's visa-free policy for Croatia poised to boost tourism, business ties

China's visa-free policy for Croatia poised to boost tourism, business ties

Venezuela is grappling with a humanitarian crisis as U.S. sanctions are hindering the country from accessing much-needed relief supplies after a deadly earthquake wreaked havoc in the South American nation last week.

Although the U.S. Department of the Treasury has temporarily eased some of the sanctions after the earthquakes, a short-term relief is still insufficient to make up for the structural damage caused by the long-standing restrictions imposed on the country, which has severely undermined the country's ability to access funds, equipment and aid resources for an extended period.

"More help is needed here, more help, even though Venezuelan people are contributing everyday," said Alberto Perez, an affected resident.

An Venezuelan political expert said that the legal and administrative actions taken by the U.S. authorities have clearly indicated that U.S. sanctions have directly hindered the flow of aid.

"This is precisely the strongest and clearest proof, the U.S. itself has admitted this through its own laws and administrative measures, admitting that sanctions, both in the past and now, have such an impact, that they hinder the delivery of funds and humanitarian aid," said Diego Sequera, a Venezuelan political analyst.

According to estimates from the United Nations (UN), the disaster has affected approximately 7 million people and caused 6.7 billion U.S. dollars in property damage, equivalent to 6 percent of Venezuela's GDP.

Venezuela is working with the UN and international humanitarian organizations to help affected communities access to aid.

Two powerful earthquakes, both measuring above magnitude 7.0, struck the country's north in rapid succession on June 24.

As of Tuesday, the death toll from the two earthquakes has risen to 1,943, with more than 10,000 injured, according to Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Tuesday.

Venezuela grapples with humanitarian crisis as U.S. sanctions block access to quake aid