China provides UK tourism boost

The UK has been granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by China, in a move that is likely to benefit UK tourism firms with a new revenue stream.

Until now, the Chinese government allowed only business and study trips to the UK. Chinese tourists booking through selected travel agencies will benefit from simplified procedures to apply for UK tourist visas.

ADS simplifies the exit procedures for Chinese tourists - they are able to use ordinary passports and apply for tourist visas when wanting to visit an ADS country.
The World Tourism Organisation estimates that the number of tourists leaving China has risen by a million every year since 1998.

Forecasts suggest that by 2020 there will be 100 million Chinese travelling overseas - four times the total number of overseas visitors who currently come to Britain each year.

Tom Wright, VisitBritain chief executive, said: "Granting ADS to Britain is good news for China and the UK. We look forward, in time, to welcoming more Chinese tourists to Britain.

"As other European countries already have ADS agreements in place, VisitBritain will face strong competition from other countries. We will work closely with the travel trade and the press to market Britain as a distinctive destination within Europe."

Source: Copyright BusinessEurope.com 2005