Britain eases visa access for Chinese visitors as Premier Li Keqiang arrives in London
Changes include single visa to allow Chinese and Indian tourists to travel to both Ireland and Britain, and a simplified online application form for independent travellers.
Britain on Monday announced it would ease access to visas for Chinese tourists and business people ahead of a visit by Premier Li Keqiang aimed at strengthening ties.
The announcement kicks off a three-day visit by Li during which Britain aims to strengthen trade ties and warm a relationship strained by a spat over Tibet.
The changes include a single visa to allow Chinese and Indian tourists to travel to both Ireland and Britain, and a simplified online application form for independent travellers.
Britain is also in talks with European partners to allow Chinese visitors to apply for visas for Britain and Europe’s 26-country Schengen area through a single application process, following a last year pilot programme with tour operators which sped up applications.
The current requirement to apply separately has been blamed for encouraging Chinese tourists to plan multi-stop trips in the Schengen area – which extends from Finland to Portugal and includes France, Italy and Spain – but skip the additional work required to visit Britain.