Last year's visitors from China were split fairly evenly between holidaymakers, businessmen and people visiting friends and relatives. Britain's historic buildings and shopping are among the biggest attractions for holidaymakers, though the VisitBritain report also notes strong interest in Premier League football.

London's shops meet the Chinese appetite for luxury goods such as Burberry, Gucci and Louis Vuitton fashion items and malt whisky. Because of import tariffs and taxes, such goods are 30 per cent cheaper than the equivalent items in China, and they are less likely to be fakes.

Other important factors behind the growing number of Chinese visitors include the increasing ease and cheapness of travel, as new airports increase flight capacity, along with the wider introduction by employers of paid leave and the relaxing of rules on taking money out of the country. In 2005, the UK was granted approved destination status, which opened up the market to groups on trips booked through licensed travel agents.