UK targets Chinese tourists

Experts note that even if the plan is agreed, the new streamlined application process is likely to take months to introduce. In the meantime, tourism bodies say they want to see other improvements, such as forms that can be filled out in Chinese and speedier handling of applications.

Mary Rance, chief executive of UKinbound, a trade association representing 250 businesses in Britain's tourism industry, warn that it is not clear how the proposed harmonization between the UK and Schengen visa systems would work.

"Biometric tests are required for UK tourism visas, but not for Schengen tourism visas, so it is not clear how one application could satisfy both visas," Rance says, adding that she believes any new policy initiatives should not apply only to Chinese visitors.

"We think new policies should not just target Chinese tourists, but tourists from all inbound markets who want to come and spend their money here. All the inbound markets in our view are equally important," she says.

Another reason the UK government is unlikely to approve an easier tourism visa policy for Chinese nationals is because China is currently defined as a "high risk" country by the UK Border Agency, Osborne says.

In comparison, citizens from "low risk" countries, including Australia, the US and Canada, do not require a visa to visit the UK, as the likelihood of illegal immigration from these countries is low.

Citizens from "low risk" countries also enjoy other benefits in the UK, such as not having to register their details with the UK police upon arrival and the ability to apply for student visas with fewer supporting documents. Such benefits are not currently enjoyed by Chinese nationals.

Nisha Patel, a senior immigration lawyer at London-based firm Russell-Cooke, says: "The proposed changes are unlikely to be approved because the UK's immigration laws have become increasingly strict since the coalition government came into power. The government's main concern in relation to tourist visas is that if they are not controlled strictly, the number of illegal immigrants in the UK could increase."

However, Patel says: "There are inconsistencies in the government's immigration policies. For example, the government has relaxed restrictions relating to other types of visas, like investor and entrepreneur visas, which target high net worth individuals from countries such as China and yet retained restrictions on tourist visa applications from Chinese nationals."

Contact the writers at zhangchunyan@chinadaily.com.cn and cecily.liu@chinadaily.com.cn