This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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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.