UK starts new visa services

The United Kingdom opened its flagship visa application center in Beijing on Dec 15 to provide better service to the growing number of Chinese traveling to the UK.

And 2010 has been a record year for Chinese visitors to the UK. In the first three quarters, Chinese demand for UK tourist visas reached 130,000 applicants, about 45 percent more than the same period in 2009.

"We are very delighted to see the healthy growth and are keen to increase Chinese tourism to the UK, since we recognize that many more Chinese will wish to use rising incomes to travel and see more of the world," Ambassador to China Sebastian Wood says.