1. What kind of visa do we need? Who will apply for it?
 
For your performances in China you will need a performing permission and a performing visa. After receiving your program and member details, Eurovista will apply for your performing permission at the Chinese Ministry of Culture in Beijing. When we received this permission, probably around May 2010, we can send you an invitation letter. With this invitation letter you can apply for a performing visa at your local embassy / consulate general. You can also use your performing visa for traveling.
According to Chinese law, however, only the performance organizer has the right and responsibility to arrange performance logistics in China, because it is closely related to the performing visa and the performance permission from the Chinese Ministry of Culture. Any performance without a performing visa or with a normal tourist visa would be illegal.
 
If one of your group members is also a delegate at the ISME World Conference 2010, she/he must also apply for a performing visa. With a normal tourist visa she/he cannot take part in the concert.
        
2. What can my local travel agency do?
 
According to Chinese law, only the performance organizer (in this case: Chinese Organizing Committee and Eurovista) has the right and responsibility to arrange performance logistics in China, because it is closely related to the performing visa and the performance permission from the Chinese Ministry of Culture. If you want to book your hotel and your tours in Beijing please contact Eurovista via isme@eurovista.com.cn or use the provided questionnaire.
 
However a local travel agency from your home city can assist you for following aspects:
1).   Booking international flights between your home city and Beijing
2).   Special luggage arrangements for delicate musical instruments  
 
3.  Who will arrange the accommodation?
 
At the moment we are preparing and organizing the accommodation for all performing groups. Soon you will receive offers for hotels that are relatively close to the concert venues and the inner city of Beijing. For ISME performing groups there are special prices available that are below average from normal hotel rates. Besides, we can ensure for all these locations a smooth transportation to the concerts and rehearsals.
 
If one of your group members is also a delegate at the ISME World Conference 2010 and his/her daily program differs from the program of the performing group, please contact us directly via isme@eurovista.com.cn.
 
4.  Can I book a cheap hostel in Beijing?
According to Chinese law, accommodations must have a special license for hosting foreigners. There is only a limited amount of this hostel type in Beijing and their number of rooms is very limited. In addition, budget accommodations hardly provide English speaking staff and there is also a lack of space for safe luggage and instrument storage that you might need. At the moment we are in negotiations with Chinese logistic partners to provide you reasonable and beneficial offers. All our hotels have a certain standard and are approved for hosting foreign guests.
 
Given the current situation, we might be able to offer you two bed standard rooms, starting from CNY 170 (= USD 25 / EUR 17) per night and person in a 3 star hotel, respectively CNY 230 (= USD 34 / EUR 23) in a 4 star hotel, including breakfast. All these hotels are located in the inner city of Beijing. There might be some cheap budget accommodations in the suburbs, but due to the huge area of the Beijing municipality and the high traffic volume, this wouldn’t be a convenient solution for you. These recommended hotels would support our logistic planning and we can ensure you a comfortable airport and venue transfer organization.
 
5.  Can we book sightseeing tours?
 
Eurovista will take care of your concerts and – if you want to do so – of sightseeing and leisure time program (you will receive different programs that can be flexible organized according to your schedule and your fringe concerts). You can choose among complete packages (incl. hotels, meals, transportation, tours), separate day tours and tours to other Chinese cities like Shanghai and Xi'an.
 
6.   Is the transportation to and from the rehearsal / concert in the price included?
 
So far the transportation to the ISME concerts and rehearsals is not included in the offered package. The Organizing Committee, however, tries to provide a free transportation. As soon as this is confirmed, we will inform you.
 
7.  Will someone take care of us in Beijing?
 
Arranged by the Chinese Organizing Committee and Eurovista, it is also planned that all groups will get support from a local volunteer during their days in Beijing, so that they can enjoy their stay even more. The volunteer will welcome the groups at the airport.
 
8.  Why do I have to submit the program details so early?
 
For the application of the performing permission, the Chinese Ministry of Culture needs all information well in advance. Only with this permission groups are allowed to apply for a performing visa.
 
9.  Can we play additional concerts in China?
As the concert management team our first priority is the arrangement of the ISME performances during the Conference. Nevertheless, we know how important additional concerts would be for the performing groups, in order to make their journey to China more worthwhile.
 
At the moment we are working on possible fringe concerts in China. Since we are waiting for confirmation from both performing groups and Chinese theaters, we can earliest give you a confirmation of your fringe concerts at the beginning of February 2010. We will contact you directly and individually as soon as we got more information. If we can arrange a fringe concert for you we will also support you for the application for another performing permission (the first type of ISME performance permissions is for cultural exchange, other performances would be normal concerts and require an additional permission). We can provide concert opportunities in Beijing and other cities of China for most of the performing groups that applied for fringe concerts. We will arrange the fringe concerts according to the requirements of each group. Since all fringe concerts need to be booked well in advance, please contact Eurovista as soon as possible via isme@eurovista.com.cn if you have requests for playing fringe concerts in China.
 
10. More questions?
 
Please contact us directly via isme@eurovista.com.cn!