The "Chinese Citizens' Emergency Center for Tourism in Switzerland" was officially launched in Geneva

According to Xinhua News Agency reporter Shi Jianguo and International Online's Liu Suyun's on-site report, the launch ceremony of the "Chinese Citizens' Tourism Emergency Center in Switzerland" organized by Chinese tourism practitioners in Switzerland was officially launched in Geneva, Switzerland on April 1, 2016. Nearly 300 people, including officials from the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, the head of the Geneva Tourism Bureau, representatives of the Chinese and Swiss tourism industries, and elite representatives of the Chinese tourism industry from various European regions, attended the launch ceremony.

Chen Yao, director of the Consular Department of the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, said at the ceremony that in recent years, the number of Chinese citizens traveling abroad has grown rapidly, but the global security situation has deteriorated. Emergencies involving Chinese citizens traveling abroad occur from time to time, and the attention and expectations of all sectors of society towards the consular protection work of the Chinese government have also been continuously increasing. The Chinese government adheres to the concept of "people-oriented and diplomacy for the people", and continuously strengthens consular protection, assistance and services.

She said that the establishment of the Emergency Center for Chinese Citizens traveling in Switzerland is a beneficial supplement to the consular protection and assistance work of the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland. The embassy is willing to maintain close communication with the emergency service center, form a synergy, and better safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese tourists. She wished the center to become better and better, to truly solve practical problems for Chinese tourists, and to ensure that every Chinese tourist visiting Switzerland could travel happily and return home safely.

Vincent Dubi, the director of the Marketing Department of the Geneva Tourism Board, expressed his welcome to Chinese tourists visiting Switzerland. He said that China is of vital importance to the development of Switzerland's tourism market. The increasing number of Chinese tourists staying overnight in Swiss hotels reflects the remarkable achievements of the Chinese tourism industry in Switzerland.

Zhu Wenbin, the chairman of the Swiss Tiantan Sifang Tourism Group, told reporters that in recent years, the security situation in Europe has been severe, and the safety of outbound tourism and emergency rescue measures have become issues of concern for the Chinese government, tourism agencies, and a large number of tourists. He said that the overall social security situation in Switzerland is good, but incidents such as theft by Chinese tourists still occur from time to time, causing considerable inconvenience to their travel itineraries. The establishment of the Emergency Service Center for Chinese Tourists in Switzerland aims to better deal with emergencies that Chinese tourists may encounter during their stay in Switzerland and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of tourists.