Paris has edge over London on visa policy for Chinese tourists

"Let's be perfectly clear, this is a competition with London, this is a battle between cities."

So said François Navarro, the Ile-de-France regional tourist authority's spokesman, to a British newspaper. And this time he is looking to avoid a Waterloo: Paris draws one million Chinese tourists annually, 10 times more than London.

Julie Chappell, marketing director at London & Partners, the official promotional organisation for the British capital, acknowledges the charm of Paris, but adds "according to the latest Globe Shopper City Index, it is London that is the best city for shopping in Europe".

Thus, Chappell elaborates, it's no wonder that the Chinese tourists spent "£140 million (HK$1.68 billion) just in 2012". They appreciate "our world-class attractions and hotels with Chinese cuisine, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Westfield Stratford City shopping complex with Chinese-speaking concierges and the UK's largest casino".

Walpole, a leading British luxury industry association, and others covet Paris' success, and are lobbying the UK government to ease visa restrictions for many Chinese visitors. Currently, a mainland Chinese tourist can travel through most of Europe with a visa obtained to enter France, but will need a separate one to enter the UK.

"Getting a UK visa is not only cumbersome - another expense - but also not very convenient because it's valid for just one country," warns Jens Thraenhart, co-founder of Dragon Trail, a digital marketing agency which targets affluent Chinese consumers.