Chinese visitors at Stonehenge, a prehistoric site in Wiltshire, England. [Photo by Zhang Guilan / For China Daily]

A record number of Chinese tourists visited Britain from January to September last year, an increase of 37 percent from the same period the year before, according to VisitBritain, the organization in charge of tourism in the UK.

According to VisitBritain, 214,000 Chinese tourists came in the first three-quarters of last year, compared to 157,000 the year before.

They spent an average of 2,023 pounds per head, a rise of 4 percent from the year before.

Their total spend of 435 million was "great news" for the UK economy, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale told the BBC.

"We are making it even easier for Chinese tourists to come and enjoy the best of Britain and our recently-launched two-year visa scheme will encourage even more to visit," he said.

To contact the reporter: chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com