The UK Foreign Office at a trade briefing with New West End Company representing London’s Luxury Quarter reported a 40% year-on-year increase in visa applications for Chinese visitors to the UK in 2010. This trend was reflected in the popularity of the UK's 'Dandelion' pavilion at last year's Shanghai Expo. Already in 2011, indications are that the Royal Wedding has helped further stimulate demand, with a further increase in visit applications in the week preceding and following the Wedding.

In recognition of the important contribution Chinese visitors make to the UK, the government is keen to enhance the experience of Chinese business and leisure visitors. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has opened a new visa application centre in Beijing to manage the anticipated increase in demand and have increased staff numbers in all application centres. UKBA have issued new Chinese-language guidance notes explaining how to complete visa application forms, helping to clarify the application process for Chinese travellers.

London Luxury was established to support the ambition of London’s West End to be a leading destination for high-value shopping. London Luxury covers the key areas of Bond Street, Mount Street, Jermyn Street and Savile Row to bring together 300 retailers into a new luxury shopping district.

Within the London Luxury Quarter, high-class retailers including Mulberry, Burberry, Asprey, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Smythson, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Dunhill join with top 5* hotels, including The Ritz, Claridges, The Langham and Metropolitan to provide visitors with bespoke VIP shopping packages. This offers a distinctive new approach for visitors looking for a luxury shopping experience in London’s West End.

Brian Davidson, Consul General said: “It is great to see that even more Chinese people are choosing the UK as the ideal destination to travel, shop and do business. The UK offers a wonderfully diverse range of attractions, from historical sites to modern architectural designs.  We hope to welcome even more visitors as we head towards the London 2012 Olympics, where the world can see the best of what Britain has to offer.”

Lord Bruce Dundas, President, London Luxury said: “Chinese retail tourists play an integral part in maintaining a buoyant retail economy in the West End. Chinese shoppers spend on average £600 per transaction and we warmly welcome them to the UK. The offer on Bond Street, Regent Street and the surrounding area is a huge draw for international visitors and we expect numbers to peak in 2012 around the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee.”

Nigel Dasler, VP of Global Blue UK, comments: “In 2007 Chinese retail spend was worth £30 million to the UK economy. In 2010 it was £300 million, illustrating the importance and the opportunity that Chinese tourism represents."

CHINESE INBOUND VISITORS – THE FACTS:
•  Numbers of Chinese visitors to the UK are set to smash previous records this year
• 150,000 Chinese nationals were granted visas to visit the UK in 2010
• The UK is one of the top tourist destinations in Europe for Chinese visitors
•  In 2010 the number of Chinese visiting the UK on Approved Destination Tours was more than double 2009 figures:

London Luxury:
Developed to capitalise on the potential of these high-spending inbound shoppers, London Luxury enables London’s West End to compete internationally as a leading destination for luxury shopping, ahead of Paris, Milan and New York. A distinctive luxury shopping proposition, London Luxury groups the key areas of Bond Street, Mount Street, Jermyn Street and Savile Row clustering together 300 luxury retailers into a new district.

The first of its kind internationally, especially developed to target the West End’s burgeoning group of affluent international and domestic shoppers, capitalising on this growing trend of retail tourism – where travellers visit a country specifically to shop. London Luxury retailers and hotels include: Mulberry, Burberry, Asprey, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Smythson, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Dunhill, The Ritz, Claridges, The Langham and Metropolitan.

For more information about London Luxury visit

New West End Company:
New West End Company is a company dedicated to driving forward London’s West End as the world’s top shopping destination. It is supported and run by major retailers and property owners in Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street.

New West End Company ensures the ongoing commercial success of the area by promoting the district, delivering street management services and funding public realm projects to improve the shopping environment.  It is a leading partner in the biggest regeneration programme of London’s West End in its history.  Find out more at .

200 million visitors travel into the West End each year.  Of these visitors 25% are from overseas and a further 21% are from outside of London.

Oxford Street was named best destination in the Visit London awards 2007 & 2008.

London’s West End is the world’s top shopping destination, with a world-class mix of 600 shops, 40 renowned theatres, 30 museums and galleries, 17 Michelin star restaurants and 7 tranquil green spaces.