The number of Chinese citizens visiting Italy for tourism or business purposes is expected to significantly increase in the next few months after the Italian government said it has simplified visa procedure for Chinese applicants.

Under the liberalized procedure, Italy said Chinese citizens are now allowed to apply for visas at the Italian Embassy in Beijing or at a consulate general closest to their place of residence.  The new rule took effect starting Saturday.

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The old rule requires Chinese applicants to apply for visas only at the Italian Embassy or in consulate general within the applicant's temporary residence permit or household registration.

The new rule spares applicants, especially those who have migrated to a city to work, from traveling long-distance to their household registration.

"This is very convenient for my part because my household registration is very far from Shanghai, where I am currently working," said a bank teller who wants to apply for an Italian visa to visit the European country.

According to the Italian Consulate-General based in Guangzhou, the new visa rule will substantially increase the number of Chinese visitors to Italy.

Italy's new visa rules for Chinese applicants came after the United Kingdom also trimmed visa application procedures in order to entice more Chinese tourists into the country.

Several countries around the world are introducing several visa and travel rules that are aimed at luring Chinese overseas tourists, which the China Tourism Bureau said could reach over 100 million this year from last year's 94 million.

Last year, Chinese travelers were considered as the most spenders abroad after spending at least US $110 billion. China was followed by Germany and the United States as the most spenders overseas, the tourism bureau announced.

For this year, the tourism bureau said Chinese citizens aged between 55 and 65 will make up the bulk of Chinese tourists who will be traveling abroad.