A record high number of Chinese tourists and business people have visited Denmark in 2011, the Danish tourism organization said Wednesday.

Over 75,800 Chinese people stayed in Denmark between January and October, representing a 22 percent increase over the same period last year, said VisitDenmark.

The annual figure is expected to rise as visitor numbers for the last two months of year are compiled.

While the upswing in visitor numbers this year reflected strong trade and cultural relations between China and Denmark, they also reveal the changing profile of Chinese visitors.

Even more Chinese visitors are expected in 2012, when Scandinavian carrier SAS opens a direct route between Copenhagen and Shanghai, and Air China opens one between Copenhagen and Beijing.

The latter route is set to increase the current capacity between the two capitals by 60 percent, or by up to 50,000 more passengers per year.

Moreover, the Danish government believes Denmark's upcoming presidency of the European Union, starting January 1, 2012, will help further raise its profile in China, positively impacting visitor numbers.