Move to ease visa rules for Chinese tourists

THE Government is working to remove the barriers making it difficult for wealthy Chinese tourists to get visas allowing them to visit the capital, the Standard understands.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller will today tell tourism chiefs that the UK needs to “open up and facilitate travel” with growing economies.

London attracts only a fraction of the one million Chinese visitors who go to Paris each year, with a demanding visa application process blamed for the shortfall. The Home Office requires Chinese tourists to fill out — in English — a 30-page visa form just to visit the UK and claims that any relaxation could threaten national security. In contrast a single “Schengen” visa covers parts of eastern Europe and all 26 countries in western Europe, but not Britain.

Evening Standard understands that Ms Miller, who was promoted in the last reshuffle, is working to ensure a solution is found to the Chinese visa problem.

Government departments are said to be discussing possible “dual processing” of British and Schengen applications so that Chinese applicants only have to send one form and one set of documents but receive two visas.

A Whitehall source said: “The Culture Secretary’s appointment has seen a renewed vigour around issues affecting tourism such as Chinese visas. Government departments are working closely together to look for new options.”

In a speech to the World Travel Market tourism event in London today Ms Miller will say: “As the tourism sector expands and changes, it’s vital we — as leaders and guardians of the sector — work together to build this important global industry. Yes to more technology, yes to greater opportunity, and yes please to removing barriers to growth.” She will add: “How do we open up and facilitate travel without compromising the security of our borders?”

The Government launched an £8 million publicity blitz in August aimed at trebling the number of Chinese visitors to Britain to 500,000.

“The Olympics generated record tourist spend in this country — up nine per cent for August compared with the same month last year,” Ms Miller will say. “The key will be to keep that going.”