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AITO warns on impact of UK visa clampdown
Countries penalised through planned new UK visa rules could force tit-for-tat action that would hit international traveller numbers.
The Association of Independent Tour Operators fears a government decision to scrap a visa waiver agreement for citizens of 11 countries visiting the UK will “likely encourage reciprocal measures†and lead to fewer travellers visiting these countries.
The organisation has joined UKinbound in voicing its concern at the new proposals by the Home Office’s United Kingdom Border Agency (see previous TravelMole story).
AITO warns of a “very real possibility†of new visa requirements for UK travellers which could mean a “huge increase†in cost and inconvenience for business trips and tourists wishing to visit favourite destinations.
The 11 countries named by the Home Office are Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Eight of these countries are Commonwealth nations who depend heavily upon British tourism.
“The real people to lose out are the locals who make a living from tourism as visitor numbers will inevitably fall,†AITO claimed.
“With increasing oil prices, uncertain interest rates and rising inflation all contributing to make trading for tour operators difficult, it would seem that any additional external factors will only exacerbate the situation and make people less likely to travel.â€
AITO chairman Derek Moore (Explore) said: “These new measures are a real concern for our members, over 60 of whom operate to these 11 countries.
“They have intimated to me that should reciprocal measures come into effect, the hassle and cost involved in obtaining visas will make it prohibitive.
“Locals, who depend upon the business and tips that tourists bring, will be the real ones to suffer from this political decision.
“AITO has also recently accepted inbound UK companies to the membership and these companies will suffer directly from the drop in tourism to the UK.
“We sympathise with UKinbound. The economic climate is difficult enough at the present time without additional hurdles being put in place.â€
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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