The United Kingdom is reviewing its visa policies to make it easier for Chinese tourists to travel to the country as part of a worldwide marketing campaign to encourage tourists, business leaders and students to come to Britain. China has seen a rapid increase in outbound travel in recent years and Chinese tourists are spending handsomely during their overseas trips.

Figures from the China National Tourism Administration(CNTA) showed that Chinese people made 70.25 million visits to other countries or regions last year, making the country the largest source of outbound tourists in Asia.

But according to Hunt, the number of Chinese tourists to the UK stands at around 120,000 a year, a small share of the approximately 3 million Chinese traveling to Europe every year.

As such, a strict visa policy as well as complicated processes and materials for visa application imposed by the country has turned many away, including potential tourists, Chinese travel agencies said. Also, the UK, unlike other European Union countries, requires fingerprint screening for tourism applicants.

But it seems the UK has realized the power of Chinese tourists who, according to the nonprofit organization World Luxury Association, spent a record 7.2 billion U.S. dollars on luxury goods overseas in January alone, mostly during the Spring Festival holiday.

Last year, British Prime Minister David Cameron initiated the British government's GREAT Campaign, inviting visitors worldwide to take a fresh look at everything the UK can offer in 2012.

The goal for the three-year global campaign is to attract 4.6 million visitors to the country in the next four years. It is estimated the additional visitors will spend 2.3 billion pounds and create nearly 60,000 new employment opportunities.