Residents of most European Union countries will see more and more Chinese tour groups shopping or sightseeing at local landmarks in the next few months.

Yesterday, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the European Union signed a milestone memorandum of understanding, which will facilitate more Chinese group tours to European countries.

Chinese people will be able to travel to 12 countries of the 15 EU members through selected travel agencies.

Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom are not participating in the present agreement. They are currently negotiating similar bilateral accords with the CNTA.

The Chinese tourists will benefit from new facilitated procedures to apply for tourist visas from the EU members which have been granted "Approved Destination Status" (ADS) by China, according to the agreement.

The new accord is expected to come into force before this summer, and will generate significant flows of Chinese visitors to Europe so as to boost EU-China tourism exchanges.

EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten praised the memorandum as good news for China and for Europe.

"I hope many will take up the new opportunity to travel. Human contacts really do make a difference, and I believe this new agreement will help Europe and China to understand each other better, as well as bringing new commercial opportunities," Patten said.

Similarly, CNTA spokesman Zhang Jianzhong said: "We are very pleased and this is a very good beginning for our co-operation in tourism. The next step for CNTA is to work hard to expand such co-operation into all countries in European Union countries."

EU consulates in China will simplify and better facilitate delivery of tourism visas for groups (with a minimum of 5 persons) which apply through designated Chinese travel agencies. Meanwhile, the CNTA has agreed to take back tourists who could possibly overstay their visas according to the agreement.

Until now, Chinese tour groups were not allowed to travel to the EU, and individual tourism was only possible with certain EU member states. Other visitors have until now traveled to the EU on different types of visas, such as for business or to visit family.

To date, China has signed ADS agreements with 28 countries and regions worldwide.

(China Daily February 13, 2004)