Britain welcomes landmark tourism agreement with China

Asian Economic News, Jan 24, 2005

LONDON, Jan. 21 Kyodo

VisitBritain, the authority for tourism in Britain, welcomed Friday the announcement that Britain is to be granted Approved Destination Status by the China National Tourism Administration.

Until now, the Chinese government has officially permitted only business and study trips to Britain. The status simplifies the exit procedures for Chinese tourists, allowing them to use ordinary passports and apply for tourist visas from Britain.

The status has been given to a number of other European countries -- Germany being the first in 2000, with Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden following in February 2004.

The World Tourism Organization estimates that the number of tourists leaving China has risen by a million every year since 1998.

Britain is already an extremely popular destination for the Chinese and it is keen to develop its tourism potential among Asian visitors.

Tom Wright, VisitBritain's chief executive, commented, ''We are delighted that the China National Tourism Association has signed this agreement with Britain.''

He added, ''Granting ADS to Britain is good news for China and the UK. We look forward, in time, to welcoming more Chinese tourists to Britain.''