Britain proves a turn-off for rich Chinese tourists

UK Border Agency data show that 267,000 visas were issued to Chinese nationals in 2011, but the Office for National Statistics reported that 147,000 Chinese tourists visited the UK last year.

Both figures are significantly below the number of visitors to other European nations, with France reporting 1.2m Chinese visitors in 2011.

The rift, which threatens to overshadow any government plan to attract more Chinese visitors, comes in the week that Britain's ambassador to China wrote to Theresa May, the Home Secretary, complaining that the "fortress UK" image projected abroad was discouraging wealthy Chinese tourists from visiting the country.

Chinese visitors to Europe need one visa to enter countries in the Schengen zone, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and a separate visa to enter the UK.

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