London/Dublin, Oct 7 (IANS) Britain and Ireland Monday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on visa cooperation to allow Chinese and Indian visitors to travel to the two island nations on a single visa.

The landmark visa deal will help Britain and Ireland share data and exchange information to inform and determine immigration decisions and allow visitors from India and China to travel more easily between the two countries, Xinhua reported citing the British Home Office.

"This agreement will make it easier and more attractive for travellers to visit both Ireland and Britain, while at the same strengthening Common Travel Area borders," British Home Secretary Theresa May said.

The British-Irish Visa scheme will start in China by the end of October and in India soon afterwards, the Home Office noted.

China and India are both key markets for British and Irish tourism and more than 10,000 visitors are expected to use the scheme.