Britain will cut the price of its group tourist visas for
Chinese travelers by almost a third for three months from March 3,
said the British Ambassador to China Sir William Ehrman on
Wednesday.
The price would fall from 63 pounds (980 yuan) to 44 pounds (660
yuan) and a final decision on whether the reduction should be
permanent would be made at the end of the trial period, said
Ehrman.
China was the first country to carry out the trial reduction,
said Ehrman, adding it was aimed at promoting tourism.
"The UK's relationship with China is crucial and growing, and
mobility between the two countries is essential to underpin it. The
visa system needs to facilitate that mobility," Ehrman said.
He said Chinese tourists were visiting Europe in increasing
numbers, and Britain wanted to welcome as many as possible.
China and Britain signed the UK-China Approved Destination
Status (ADS) Memorandum of Understanding in July 2005 to facilitate
the visit of Chinese tourist groups to Britain.
Ehrman said the British Embassy in Beijing issued over 13,000
ADS visas in China last year, up 26 percent from 2006, with an
issue rate of 95 percent.
The new tourist visa scheme is among a series of programs to
promote exchanges between Beijing and London, which will be holding
the Olympic Games successively in 2008 and 2012.
On Monday, a "Women and the Olympics" forum drew Chinese and
British officials, athletes, businesswomen and representatives of
social groups to the British Museum to share views and experiences
on the Olympics, as part of the China-UK Women's Cultural
Festival.
On Feb. 12, the 2008 'China in London' season was launched in
central London. It celebrates China's vibrant and historic cultural
life with music, dance, film, theater, and interactive workshops
and exhibitions.
More than 300,000 people are expected to participate in the
events, which range from free Chinese Opera Workshops for children,
Chinese tea tasting and modern opera performances, to the Chinese
Elderly Art Group performance of traditional Chinese cultural and
martial arts.
China and Britain would also carry out two schemes to promote
exchanges between the athletes and coaches before the Beijing
Olympics, and among young people between the Beijing and London
Games, said Ehrman.
(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2008)