BUCHAREST -- Romanian tourism authorities anounced Monday to ease visa rules for Chinese tourists within two weeks, which would help them get their visa in a week at most.

According to the National Authority for Tourism (ANT), a protocol will be signed in this respect among the authorities, the General Inspectorate for Immigrations, the Foreign Ministry and the National Tourism Agencies' Association.

Above-mentioned facilities will be available only for tourists traveling through tour operators, stressed ANT president Anca Pavel-Nedea.

Some 2 million foreign tourists visited Romania annually, based on incoming data received from Romanian tourist accommodation units. Most of the foreign tourists, over three-quarters, are from Europe, while those from Asia accounted for some 12 percent.

Chinese tourists in the true sense are rare in Romania and local travel operators complained that visa difficulties, especially long visa waiting time, are among the main obstacles which affect the rapid growth of Chinese tourists in the country.