STORY: Direct flights to China boost trade, tourism: Serbian president
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 10, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 12, 2025
LENGTH: 00:00:57
LOCATION: Belgrade
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the ceremonial sendoff at Nikola Tesla Airport
2. SOUNDBITE (Serbian): ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, Serbian President
3. various of the ceremonial sendoff at Nikola Tesla Airport

STORYLINE:

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic highlighted the significance of direct connectivity with China in light of growing trade and tourism ties.

He made the remarks while attending the ceremonial sendoff of Air Serbia's inaugural direct flight from Belgrade to China's Shanghai on Friday night.

SOUNDBITE (Serbian): ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, Serbian President
"The opening of a direct flight to Shanghai is a big deal for us, a huge deal. 
In 2024, 147,000 Chinese tourists visited Serbia. Do the math, that's about 1,200 people staying in Serbia every night. Just imagine the significant impact this has on our GDP, hospitality industry, and hoteliers. Think of how many hotels are fully booked thanks to our Chinese visitors."

The first flight departed Belgrade at 00:45 a.m. local time (2345 GMT Friday) with over 100 young participants bound for China as part of a student exchange program.

This is Air Serbia's third direct flight route to China. The airline announced that the route will operate twice a week during winter, with departures from Belgrade on Tuesdays and Saturdays and from Shanghai on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Belgrade.
(XHTV)