From September 1 Chinese tour groups are able to visit countries of the just-expanded European Union (EU), which have signed "authorized destination" agreements by the Beijing government.
Until now only individual tourism was allowed, in some EU member states. Other Chinese visitors used various types of documents to travel to Europe, for example on business visas or as part of a family visit.
EU consulates in China will simplify the process of granting tourist visas to groups of at least five people, who can make an application for the document via some 500 Chinese government-designated travel agents.
The countries of Europe's 15-member Schengen free-movement zone can issue visas for a stay of up to 30 days, while the 10 states which joined the EU in May will issue national visas until they join Schengen, in theory in 2007.
Britain and Ireland, which are not members of the Schengen zone, are not subject to the accord, while Denmark is also exempt.
In 2002, some 645,000 Chinese tourists visited the EU, compared with 1.3 million European travellers who went to China.
"There is an enormous demand for tourism as (China's) wealth has increased," said a European Commission official. "The economic potential is enormous for European countries."
In exchange for making visas more easily available, China has agreed to repatriate any of its nationals who abuse the scheme to remain illegally in the EU.
"It is the first time China has agreed to include a re-admission clause into this type of accord," said the official, stressing that the EU can withdraw authorization from any Chinese travel agent which began "losing" tourists.
The EU and China began negotiations this year on an accord for re-admission of clandestine immigrants in general, not just tourists.
The 15 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All except Norway and Iceland are EU member states.
By: N. Peter Kramer
