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More EU Countries Added to Chinas ADS List

The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the European Community have signed a milestone memorandum of understanding that will facilitate Chinese group tourism to Europe. The agreement is expected to come into force before this summer.

Chinese tourists going through selected travel agencies will benefit from simplified procedures to apply for tourist visas from 12 member states of the European Community which have been granted  'Approved Destination Status' (ADS) by China.

The 12 nations are: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Approved Destination Status, which was initialed during the EC-China Summit in Beijing last year, is the largest ADS agreement ever concluded by China.

Consulates of the 12 countries in China will simplify and facilitate delivery of tourism visas for groups with a minimum of five people applying through designated Chinese travel agencies. China agreed to ensure the return of possible over-staying tourists under the agreement.

According to the World Tourism Organization, China will become the top tourist destination in the world and the fourth-largest source of outbound tourism, with an estimated 100 million outbound travellers by 2020. Chinese outbound tourism totaled 20 million visitors in 2003, up 21.8% on the previous year.

Chinese tourist groups are only allowed to travel to countries which have been granted  'Approved Destination Status' by China. To date China has signed ADS agreements with 59 countries and regions in the world, among which the routes to 28 nations and regions can be organized by travel agencies.