Brussels, 19/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The tourist industry is unhappy about the difficulties some potential tourists face in getting a visa to enter the EU which are hindering the sector's return to growth. In a report based on the findings of a survey it carried out between July and September 2010, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) says that problems over obtaining European visas discourage more than 450,000 tourists, mainly Chinese and Indians, from coming to Europe every year, resulting in losses of close to €500 million. In China, 26% of potential tourists cancel their stays in Europe because of difficulties and delays in getting Schengen Area visas, which are more difficult to obtain than US visas. Yet the US is renowned for being so demanding in this area. China, like all the other emerging economies, has vast potential for the European tourism market, with a society which is becoming richer and which wants to consume and to open up to the outside world. The European Union is aware of the problem: in discussions on putting in place a European tourism policy, the issue of the difficulty faced by some nationalities in getting visas has been broached. At the informal meeting in Madrid on 15 April, Industry and Entrepreneurship Commissioner Antonio Tajani underlined the challenges posed by issues of illegal immigration and terrorism, which complicate visa procedures.
According to the ETOA report, the country which puts most people off is the United Kingdom. Some 58,000 tourists cancelled trips to the UK because of the length of time taken to get a visa and 314,000 potential visitors decided not even to apply for that very reason. For example, apart from difficult administrative procedures, a Chinese potential applicant for a visa to visit the UK is finger printed and has to answer highly personal questions. France comes second for the length of its procedures, followed by Italy which requires interviews in virtually all cases. Germany, however, is the most efficient country in visa delivery, in terms of time taken, speed of procedures, flexibility and amiability. This, unfortunately, is the exception to the rule, laments ETOA director Tom Jenkins. European tour operators are unhappy that forms are not translated into all languages, that there is poor communication with the competent authorities and problems with online applications. Overall, Europe is perceived to be slow and bureaucratic. ETOA urges the Commission and the counties of the European Economic Area to open a debate. “This has to address what visas are for, how they are issued and how much they cost. The debate must be conducted with the interests of the applicant placed to the fore. Rather than treat them as potential criminals, we should welcome these applicants as treasured customers,” ETOA says. At the start of 2011, tour operators will publish a more detailed analysis, of the situation. This will provide a more substantial quantification of estimated losses for the sector as a result of difficulties in getting visas and will more exactly identify the obstacles and best practice. (I.L./transl.rt)