Travelling abroad for leisure is becoming more and more popular for Chinese.
Travelling
abroad
for
leisure
is
becoming
more
and
more
popular
for
Chinese
.
The UK is high up in the list of places that the Chinese want to visit.
The
UK
is
high
up
in
the
list
of
places
that
the
Chinese
want
to
visit
.
There is a sense of mystery about the UK; it's often the images of England's green parks, countryside and Victorian houses that people point to as an alternative to polluted, overcrowded cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou.
There
is
a
sense
of
mystery
about
the
UK
;
it
's
often
the
images
of
England
's
green
parks
,
countryside
and
Victorian
houses
that
people
point
to
as
an
alternative
to
polluted
,
overcrowded
cities
such
as
Beijing
and
Guangzhou
.
The capital is viewed as modern and dynamic, while being filled deep with history.
The
capital
is
viewed
as
modern
and
dynamic
,
while
being
filled
deep
with
history
.
When asked what other images are thought of by the UK, the reply is often "the Queen, tea and Oxbridge".
When
asked
what
other
images
are
thought
of
by
the
UK
,
the
reply
is
often
``
the
Queen
,
tea
and
Oxbridge
''
.
So what's stopping them actually coming?
So
what
's
stopping
them
actually
coming
?
Sebastian Wood, the British ambassador in Beijing, has described the UK as a “ fortress ”, and while this is perhaps an exaggeration, Britain does have a reputation as a country that is harder to access.
Sebastian
Wood
,
the
British
ambassador
in
Beijing
,
has
described
the
UK
as
a
“
fortress
”
,
and
while
this
is
perhaps
an
exaggeration
,
Britain
does
have
a
reputation
as
a
country
that
is
harder
to
access
.
The main problem for Chinese tourists is obvious.
The
main
problem
for
Chinese
tourists
is
obvious
.
Although visa applications are now completed online, visitors are still required to visit one of 12 UK centers across the country for a face-to-face interview and fingerprinting.
Although
visa
applications
are
now
completed
online
,
visitors
are
still
required
to
visit
one
of
12
UK
centers
across
the
country
for
a
face-to-face
interview
and
fingerprinting
.
If you don't live near one of these enters already, you'd have to travel some distance to get there.
If
you
do
n't
live
near
one
of
these
enters
already
,
you
'd
have
to
travel
some
distance
to
get
there
.
Another problem is also to be mentioned.
Another
problem
is
also
to
be
mentioned
.
If travelers from China visit the UK, they also want to cover as much ground as possible.
If
travelers
from
China
visit
the
UK
,
they
also
want
to
cover
as
much
ground
as
possible
.
But the UK is not included in the Schengen visa, which allows access to a host of 26 European countries such as France and Germany.
But
the
UK
is
not
included
in
the
Schengen
visa
,
which
allows
access
to
a
host
of
26
European
countries
such
as
France
and
Germany
.
So it makes the former seem a less worth it.
So
it
makes
the
former
seem
a
less
worth
it
.
There is also the issue of cost: PS47 for a Schengen visa, PS82 for the UK.
There
is
also
the
issue
of
cost
:
PS47
for
a
Schengen
visa
,
PS82
for
the
UK
.
On top of this, the UK is viewed as stricter in its handing of visas compared with the rest of Europe, fed by urban legends of rejected applications.
On
top
of
this
,
the
UK
is
viewed
as
stricter
in
its
handing
of
visas
compared
with
the
rest
of
Europe
,
fed
by
urban
legends
of
rejected
applications
.
In the end, the decision comes down to one question: Is Britain worth a visit?
In
the
end
,
the
decision
comes
down
to
one
question
:
Is
Britain
worth
a
visit
?
Travelling abroad for leisure is becoming more and more popular for Chinese. The UK is high up in the list of places that the Chinese want to visit. There is a sense of mystery about the UK; it's often the images of England's green parks, countryside and Victorian houses that people point to as an alternative to polluted, overcrowded cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou.  The capital is viewed as modern and dynamic, while being filled deep with history. When asked what other images are thought of by the UK, the reply is often "the Queen, tea and Oxbridge". So what's stopping them actually coming? Sebastian Wood, the British ambassador in Beijing, has described the UK as a “ fortress ”, and while this is perhaps an exaggeration, Britain does have a reputation as a country that is harder to access.  The main problem for Chinese tourists is obvious. Although visa applications are now completed online, visitors are still required to visit one of 12 UK centers across the country for a face-to-face interview and fingerprinting. If you don't live near one of these enters already, you'd have to travel some distance to get there.  Another problem is also to be mentioned. If travelers from China visit the UK, they also want to cover as much ground as possible. But the UK is not included in the Schengen visa, which allows access to a host of 26 European countries such as France and Germany. So it makes the former seem a less worth it.  There is also the issue of cost: PS47 for a Schengen visa, PS82 for the UK. On top of this, the UK is viewed as stricter in its handing of visas compared with the rest of Europe, fed by urban legends of rejected applications. In the end, the decision comes down to one question: Is Britain worth a visit?