Tourism boost for Britain as Osborne confirms relaxed visa rules for Chinese

13-Oct-2013 - Last updated on 29-Aug-2024 at 12:07 GMT

VisitBritain says the visa changes will support its ambition to attract 40 million visitors a year by 2020

Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that visa applications for Chinese visitors to the UK will be simplified has been welcomed by hospitality and tourism organisation’s alike, after years of campaigning about the issue.

Currently, Chinese tourists are allowed to visit any member of the Shengen group on a single visa, but they have to apply for a visa using a separate system if they want to enter the UK.

Under the new plan, Chinese nationals would not need to submit separate UK visa applications if they book with selected travel agents. In effect, this means they would be able to apply for a tourist visa to the UK using the same application form used by the ‘Schengen’ group of European Union nations which includes France, Germany, Italy and Spain (but excludes the UK and Ireland).

A 24-hour ‘super priority’ visa service will also be available from next summer.

“Tourism is a key industry for Britain in China,” said Sandie Dawe, chief executive of national tourism body VisitBritain. “Last year witnessed a record jump of 20 per cent in visits and 25 per cent in spend.

“We now compete in the global race for the world’s most valuable tourism market and know there is already a huge aspiration to travel to Britain, so we want to make it easier to get here and show how welcome our Chinese visitors are.

“The changes made today by the Chancellor underscore that message, and if trends continue, we are set to see another record year for the Chinese in 2013.”

Open for business

Meanwhile, Grant Hearn, chief executive of budget hotel chain Travelodge, agrees that Osborne’s announcement comes as ‘great news for our industry and the British economy’.

“We can now clearly showcase to the Chinese market that the UK is open for business,” said Hearn. “We have a great chance of reaching the $100 bn bilateral trade target by 2015, which was agreed between the UK and Chinese Government last year.

“Today’s announcement will also certainly boost the job market, which is much needed to help get the economy back on track.

“However, to really unleash the true potential of this growing tourist market, the Government needs to extend its policy to all Chinese tourists and not the selected few.”

The proposals for a change were initially put forward by Home Secretary Theresa May and dually welcomed by the British Hospitality Association’s chief executive Ufi Ibrahim, who was ‘encouraged’ by the announcement.