Chinese group tourists will be allowed to visit the United Kingdom, Chile and Jamaica from July 15, according to the source from the China National Tourism Administration.

China signed a tourism MOU with Chile last November, with the United Kingdom in January, and with Jamaica in February, respectively.

British tour agencies are now busy preparing for the arrival of Chinese tourists, said Charlie Li, an employee of the Visit Britain Beijing representative.

The British Airways now has 25 weekly flights between China and the UK. Passengers are expected to rise 15 to 20 percent year on year in the future, because of the permission for group tours to the UK, said Tim Ramage, president of the airlines in China.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2005)