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| Tourism bosses say visa red tape – and cost – are putting off Chinese visitors | Tourism bosses say visa red tape – and cost – are putting off Chinese visitors |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Chinese may be coming, but it's a moot point as to whether they'll be coming to Britain. Hence the culture secretary's Jeremy Hunt's efforts this week to reassure Britain's frustrated tourism and aviation leaders who have long urged the government to simplify the costly visa regime that deters these potential visitors. | The Chinese may be coming, but it's a moot point as to whether they'll be coming to Britain. Hence the culture secretary's Jeremy Hunt's efforts this week to reassure Britain's frustrated tourism and aviation leaders who have long urged the government to simplify the costly visa regime that deters these potential visitors. |
| Although the figures are disputed, about 25-50% more Chinese tourists are believed to visit France than Britain; some indicators suggest there are up to eight times as many visits. A UK visitor visa requires lengthy forms with original supporting documents and costs £78, compared with the €60 (£47.60) that buys access to the whole European Schengen zone. The UK visa also requires biometric data, which involves applications in person, although Europe will follow suit next year. | Although the figures are disputed, about 25-50% more Chinese tourists are believed to visit France than Britain; some indicators suggest there are up to eight times as many visits. A UK visitor visa requires lengthy forms with original supporting documents and costs £78, compared with the €60 (£47.60) that buys access to the whole European Schengen zone. The UK visa also requires biometric data, which involves applications in person, although Europe will follow suit next year. |
| Hunt's latest promise to the tourism industry that he would work hard to boost the Chinese market was marred by news that the home secretary, Theresa May, strongly opposed any relaxation of the rules. | Hunt's latest promise to the tourism industry that he would work hard to boost the Chinese market was marred by news that the home secretary, Theresa May, strongly opposed any relaxation of the rules. |
| One airline director said that the Home Office still views China as more a source of asylum seekers and economic migrants than consumers. Companies are also concerned about the Chinese business visitor market, with potential trading partners facing difficulties in securing UK visas. | One airline director said that the Home Office still views China as more a source of asylum seekers and economic migrants than consumers. Companies are also concerned about the Chinese business visitor market, with potential trading partners facing difficulties in securing UK visas. |
| Adam Marshall, of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "China is a fast-growing trading partner for Britain, so we need to do our utmost to welcome both tourists and business visitors from the world's largest country. Unfortunately, businesses trading with Chinese firms report that the process of securing UK visas is both expensive and cumbersome. | Adam Marshall, of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "China is a fast-growing trading partner for Britain, so we need to do our utmost to welcome both tourists and business visitors from the world's largest country. Unfortunately, businesses trading with Chinese firms report that the process of securing UK visas is both expensive and cumbersome. |
| "If individual tourists and Chinese companies can secure more flexible Schengen visas at a lower cost, the sad reality is that many companies here in Britain could lose substantial business. | "If individual tourists and Chinese companies can secure more flexible Schengen visas at a lower cost, the sad reality is that many companies here in Britain could lose substantial business. |
| "Ministers say they want Britain to be open for business. They need to ensure that the visa regime doesn't undermine the goal of increased exports, tourism, and trade." | "Ministers say they want Britain to be open for business. They need to ensure that the visa regime doesn't undermine the goal of increased exports, tourism, and trade." |
| Willie Walsh, the boss of International Airlines Group, parent company of British Airways, has been vocal in his condemnation of the regime as bad for business, after being told repeatedly on a trade mission to China by businessmen how hard it was to get a visa. | Willie Walsh, the boss of International Airlines Group, parent company of British Airways, has been vocal in his condemnation of the regime as bad for business, after being told repeatedly on a trade mission to China by businessmen how hard it was to get a visa. |
| An IAG spokeswoman said: "The Olympics should give us a huge boost. But are we going to squander that springboard for growth and jobs? Chinese tourists are shunning the UK. | An IAG spokeswoman said: "The Olympics should give us a huge boost. But are we going to squander that springboard for growth and jobs? Chinese tourists are shunning the UK. |
| "And Chinese businesses are locating in other parts of Europe. Our visa regime is like swimming the 100 metres through treacle. We want a simpler system or we will continue to lose business." | "And Chinese businesses are locating in other parts of Europe. Our visa regime is like swimming the 100 metres through treacle. We want a simpler system or we will continue to lose business." |
| Patricia Taylor, director of strategy at VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, said: "Because we're an island we have to work even harder. With Schengen you get 25 countries on one visa, and most Chinese tourists want to do a tour of Europe. We want to balance the economic growth opportunities with the obvious desire to keep our borders safe." VisitBritain and others have proposed shorter, guaranteed times for visa processing, allowing applications in Mandarin, creating more centres in China where people can apply in person, and lowering the barriers for those who already possess a Schengen visa. | Patricia Taylor, director of strategy at VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, said: "Because we're an island we have to work even harder. With Schengen you get 25 countries on one visa, and most Chinese tourists want to do a tour of Europe. We want to balance the economic growth opportunities with the obvious desire to keep our borders safe." VisitBritain and others have proposed shorter, guaranteed times for visa processing, allowing applications in Mandarin, creating more centres in China where people can apply in person, and lowering the barriers for those who already possess a Schengen visa. |
| Hunt said he would be "looking at improvements to the visa system". | Hunt said he would be "looking at improvements to the visa system". |
| According to the UN World Tourism Organisation's latest annual figures, 109,000 Chinese tourists visited Britain in 2010, a figure dwarfed by the 907,000 visiting France and 511,000 going to Germany. | According to the UN World Tourism Organisation's latest annual figures, 109,000 Chinese tourists visited Britain in 2010, a figure dwarfed by the 907,000 visiting France and 511,000 going to Germany. |
| However, these figures have been called into question by Sebastian Wood, Britain's ambassador to China, who wrote to the home secretary in May complaining: "It is hard to frame debate when there are so many competing sets of statistics in circulation." He said that numbers of visitor visas issued by Schengen countries in 2010 totalled 609,000, 159,000 from France, compared with 151,000 from the UK – a figure rising to 193,000 in 2011. | However, these figures have been called into question by Sebastian Wood, Britain's ambassador to China, who wrote to the home secretary in May complaining: "It is hard to frame debate when there are so many competing sets of statistics in circulation." He said that numbers of visitor visas issued by Schengen countries in 2010 totalled 609,000, 159,000 from France, compared with 151,000 from the UK – a figure rising to 193,000 in 2011. |
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