European Quartet banks on 2008

HONG KONG - Poland is optimistic that 2008 is when it will gain membership in the Schengen Convention, which abolished the checks at internal borders of signatory states. Simply a traveller with visa for a Schengen member state could also visit the rest other Schengen member states, which numbered 25 as of January 1, 2007.



Thus member states have a better chance of attracting heavily documented travellers, including the nationals of the People’s Republic of China, the world’s most lucrative source market.



Vavra Jiri, CzechTourism head of representative for China, said another plus factor shaping up for his destination is the launch of a direct flight between Beijing and Prague, also in 2008.



Poland is part of the European Quartet, a tourism cooperation it shares with Czech, Hungary and Slovak to promote the region more actively.



The three countries are likewise awaiting their Schengen membership in 2008.