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Doors open to world's biggest tourism market
21/01/2005
Scotland can reap huge benefits from a new agreement
allowing Chinese tourists to visit the UK, Deputy First
Minister Jim Wallace said today.
Currently, only business visitors and students are
allowed to come to the UK. The granting by the Chinese
Government of Approved Destination Status (ADS) to the UK
means tourists from designated regions within China will
now be able to travel on a leisure tourism visa.
Speaking after a meeting with the Chinese Consul-General
in Edinburgh, and ahead of his own trip to China, Mr
Wallace said:
"China is Asia's biggest and the world's fastest growing
outbound tourism market, with annual growth expected to
continue at around 20%. The figures for China are truly
staggering - the World Tourism Organisation predicts 100
million trips a year by 2020, with a market worth £100
billion.
"Experience shows that granting ADS boosts visitor
numbers to a destination by 10% per year. Working with
VisitScotland we will ensure that Scotland makes this most
of this exceptional opportunity.
"We have a great country with much to offer, and we can
feel confident that our qualities will attract Chinese
visitors. For instance, the number of Chinese students
studying in Scotland has increased six-fold since 1999, and
they are now the largest non-EU group studying here. We
have excellent brand identities - the golf market in China
is booming, whisky sales are increasing, and Burns has been
taken to the heart of Chinese culture.
"Most Chinese vistors travel as part of organised
package tours, and VisitScotland is working closely with
Chinese tour operators in London and with VisitBritain on
promotional material supplied to operators in China. I
hope to discuss these opportunities next week with tour
operators and with VisitBritain representatives in
Beijing."
Mrs Guifang Guo, Chinese Consul-General, also welcomed
the agreement:
"It is heartening to hear that a bilateral 'approved
destination status' (ADS) agreement between China and the
UK has been signed in Beijing today by Mr. He Guangwei, and
Mr. Jack Straw.
"It is expected the agreement will greatly facilitate
the travel of Chinese tourists to the UK, enhancing
exchange, understanding and friendship between the two
peoples. Scotland is an ideal holiday destination for the
average Chinese person. It is well positioned to meet the
growing needs of the Chinese tourism market and benefit
from the agreement."
134,000 Chinese people visited the UK in 2003, an
increase of 4.8% on 2002. Scotland receives around 6,000
Chinese travellers. The UK currently has 0.7% of the
Chinese outbound market.