Visa News

Libya Must Ease Visa Processing to Improve Country’s Tourism

About 300 000 tourists annually visit Libya, one of the largest African countries. If compared to 6 mln visitors in Morocco and Tunisia and 8.5 mln travelers, who come to Egypt every year, Libya gets just 0.5 % of all tourists in the Middle East and North Africa.

Nevertheless, the country showed its potential when it welcomed more than 7 000 foreigners in March to view a solar eclipse. The event has raised interest in Libya as a tourist destination. It has all to attract travellers: ancient Roman and Greek ruins, prehistoric desert sites and all the beauty of the Mediterranean southern shores.

“If Libya got its act together, it could be a tourism world beater,” said Rajeev Singh-Molares, one of the authors of a report on the Libyan economy by Monitor Group consultants and Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA).

The country plans to build a series of tourism complexes, but there are many problems to be solved before Libya gets the status of top travel destination, one of which is slow and complex tourist visa processing.

“It’s so difficult to get visas to go into the country: there’s no point talking about reform if it takes 45 days to approve a tourist visa. That’s got to change,” Singh-Molares said.

The country has already begun to speed up visa processing for large groups of tourists travelling with approved operators.

Source: http://www.middle-east-online.com/

Russian Officials Let British Explorers Travel across the Country

British explorers Karl Bushby and Dimitry Kieffer are back on track after Russian officials changed their mind about their expulsion for violating border crossing rules.

Bushby and Kieffer appealed the ruling by the Chukotka district court of April 14, on a 2,000-rouble fine and administrative expulsion which entails a five-year travel ban to Russia.

The travellers are still to pay a fine of 2 000 rubles (£40) to the Russian authorities, but they are let to continue their walk.

The 36 000-mile trip – called the Goliath Expedition – started in Chile in 1998. It is expected to take 12 years.

Sources: http://edition.cnn.com/ , http://news.bbc.co.uk/ , http://www.tass.ru/

Visa Free Travel to Russia for Chinese Tourists

About 200 000 Chinese tourists come to Russia annually. To attract even more visitors from China, visa free travel to Russia has been arranged for its citizens.

A tourist must have a valid passport and register at a travel agency approved by the Russian Tourism Bureau. This will save him $50 of visa application fee and 7 days of visa processing. The average tour cost has also gone down to approximately $1000.

It is advised though to be careful with choosing a travel agency. “Before registering for a tour to Russia without a visa, travellers should make sure that the agency is qualified to offer this kind of tour. This is very important,” said Zhao Dexiang, China International Travel Service.

Source: http://english.cctv.com/

Related: http://www.russia.com/ , http://www.direct-visas.co.uk/

British Embassy Will Open Visa Application Centres throughout Russia

The British embassy in Russia is planning to open visa application centres in 11 Russian cities. These centres will accept visa fees and check the correctness of visa application forms. All visa decisions will be made in the embassy in Moscow and in its consulates in St.Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

Such measures aim to simplify visa issue process and bring it closer to those Russians, who live far from Moscow.

The British embassy in Russia issued 108 000 visas last year. Visa application services working in different parts of the country, further growth can be expected in the nearest future.

Source: http://www.tass.ru/

EU Russia Visa Agreement to Be Signed in May

Russia and the European Union plan to sign an agreement on easing visa regulations by the end of May, 2005, before or during an EU-Russian summit planned for May 25 in Sochi.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin ordered the foreign ministry to sign the agreement on a simplified visa regime on behalf of the Russian Federation.

The agreement aims to relax EU-Russia visa requirements for certain categories of people, such as students, researches, politicians and businessmen.

“Our intention is that the two agreements will enter into force by the end of the year,” EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said. “Our final goal is a visa free regime between Russia and the European Union, but it is a long term goal,” Frattini said.

Sources: http://www.times.spb.ru/ , http://en.rian.ru/

Passport Change Have Lost French Travel industry USD 208 mln

French tourist industry lost $208 million (£138 million) after the country’s government was unable to deliver new biometric passports required for visa-free travel to the US on time.

The US says that all passports issued after October 26, 2005, must contain a digital photograph of the holder and a microchip. Otherwise, the owner will need a visa to enter the United States.

The process of passport modernisation began only last summer and is too slow. Professionals are demanding compensation from the French Government, whose inability to deliver the high-tech passports on time has resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in trans-atlantic bookings.

Ren-Marc Chikli, chairman of the French Association of Tour Operators argues, “What has happened is unacceptable. It’s meant lost sales for tour operators, travel agents, airlines and others. Everyone is going to do their calculations and ask for compensation from the Government”

The US Consulate in Paris is flooded with visa applications. Last week, the earliest date for a consulate appointment was June 20.

The UK passports have been containing digital photos since 2003 and the British Government promises to deliver microchips by this autumn.

Source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/

WTTC Anticipates Tourism Boom in Russia

The World Travel and Tourism agency (WTTC) conducted a research on tourism industries in 174 countries, including Russia. Yesterday, an in-depth report was presented to the Russian Government and the Federal Tourism Agency, stating that Russia is going to become one of the leading tourist destinations by 2016.

The WTTC report contained economic projections and policy recommendations for the growth of travel in Russia. According to it, in the next decade year to year Russian travel and tourism industry GDP will grow 5.1 per cent.

The recommendations contained:

• identification of and investment in brand “Russia”, promoted both internationally and domestically,
• speed up the identification of special economic zones for tourism,
• reduce red tape, associated with entry visa requirements,
• modernization of airports, railways and ports,
• diversify Russia’s tourism product (incentive travel, sea and river cruises, cultural tourism, city breaks, sports and adventure travel) to ensure its long-term sustainability.

“Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President WTTC, said: Russia has the potential to become one of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism economies over the next decade …I would like to commend Rozturism on the significant steps it has already made in facilitating Travel & Tourism growth in Russia and call upon the government, industry and population at large to adopt the recommendations set out in this report so that the full social and economic benefits of tourism can be achieved.”

Russian officials and Federal Tourism Agency representatives admitted that on the whole the research correlates with the Russian state strategy.

Sources: http://www.traveldailynews.com , http://www.kommersant.com , http://www.themoscowtimes.com

Pakistan Plans to Improve Country’s Tourism

Great historical and cultural value and natural beauty give Pakistan all chances to become one of the most visited tourist destinations in Asia.

Yesterday Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz has emphasized to Ministry of Tourism that considerable work should be done to promote tourism in the country.

Among his recommendations there were such as liberalization of visa regime, ease of movement for travelers, better residential facilities.

In four weeks Ministry of Tourism is to submit the promotional strategy in coordination with private sector and all the related government departments. It will include all the above recommendations. New tourism sites will be developed around the country, especially in its mountainous Northern parts. New treks and modern hotels will be built.

Source: http://www.paktribune.com

One Week Visas Issued in Iranian Airports

In order to facilitate tourism in southern regions of Iran, the country cabinet ministers have agreed to allow 7 day visa issue for foreign visitors in two southern airports Bushehr and Asalouye.

The cabinet ministers have made an agreement with the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation of Iran, Control and Inspection Office of the Environmental Organisation and Forest and Rangeland Organisation on ecotourism development in these regions.

Measures will be taken to increase security and bring crimes under control.

Source: http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=1&id=1557

US Trying to be More Welcoming to Foreign Travelers

Today the US has faced an incredible slump in travel industry. The 48 million foreign visitors to the USA last year was 9 percent below 2000. In the same period, worldwide foreign travel soared 17 percent. The intention to improve the US boarders’ security after Sept. 11th, 2001 has caused incredible toughening of visa issue process and made customs officials see menace of terrorism in every foreigner. At the same time, almost all European and Asian travel destinations are aggressively marketing themselves in other countries, their governments working on simplification of visa regime or visa exemption.

As a result, America is loosing more and more foreign visitors, billions of dollars and thousands of new jobs. Travellers prefer other, more friendly and welcoming destinations to avoid visa hassle and supernormal spending.

Hopefully, things will change in the nearest future. Last month Bush administration announced a long-term plan to make the USA more welcoming to foreigners.

This year some US consular offices are planning to begin testing electronic visa application process and videoconference interviews for visa applicants.

Different ways are worked out to make American airports friendlier to foreign arrivals. Possible changes: greeters and video messages to prepare them for customs.

Source: http://www.thnt.com/
Related: http://www.direct-visas.co.uk/news/ , http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/

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