英国财政大臣乔治?奥斯本将于本周一宣布，英国将放宽对中国商务人士和游客的签证要求。
数据表明，中国游客在英国人均消费高达1676英镑，为全球平均水平的三倍。2012年，中国游客在境外游上总共花费1020亿美元，已成为世界上最具有价值的游客。世界各国家吸引中国游客的竞争十分激烈，据了解，法国每年迎来的中国游客数量超过英国25%。
根据新的签证要求，中国商务人士将可申请24小时签发的优先签证，而不必再等待一周的时间。预计明年夏天正式实行。
Visa applications for Chinese visitors entering the UK will be simplified, Chancellor George Osborne has announced.
He wants to make it easier for Chinese visitors to the EU to visit the UK.
The announcement came as part of Mr Osborne's week long trade visit to China in which he is trying to persuade Chinese companies to invest in the UK.
He has already unveiled a deal in which a Chinese firm took a 20% stake in a new business park in Manchester.
Under the new plan for visas, Chinese nationals visiting the European Union will not need to submit separate visa applications for Britain, if they book with selected travel agents.
Currently, visitors can apply for a single visa to visit much of Europe, but a separate one is required to travel to the UK.
It is thought that extra paperwork is deterring many Chinese visitors from including the UK in a trip to Europe.
A mobile visa scheme which already operates in Beijing and Shanghai will be expanded.
Under the mobile service which was first tested by executives at Wanda, the company that bought Sunseeker yachts, officials go out to the applicants to collect their paperwork and biometric data.
The process can take less than five minutes.
A 24 hour "super priority" visa service will be available from next summer. However details have not yet been released but a similar scheme operates in India.
The move will be welcomed by UK businesses who want to benefit from Chinese tourists.
According to the government, last year 210,000 visas were issue to Chinese nationals and they contributed around £300m to the economy.
"These changes will streamline and simplify the visa application process for Chinese visitors, while ensuring the system is strong and secure," said Mr Osborne.
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