The UK should adopt the Schengen System to make sure it stops missing out on vital tourists, in accordance with World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill.
The comments come as prime minister David Cameron promised to loosen visa bureaucracy for visitors from India.
Scowsill explained: “It is sweet to listen to David Cameron is vowing to sit back visa rules to permit more Indians to travel to Britain for work and study.
“Anything which permits people to travel more easily can only be a terrific thing, socially and economically, for the united kingdom.
“But it really is only 1 small step.
“The restrictive visa policies in place inside the UK are making the rustic uncompetitive and the united kingdom government now should loosen visa bureaucracy for other emerging markets like China.”
Travel generates 2.3 million jobs and contributes over $100 billion to the united kingdom economy annually and reforms in visa facilitation have the aptitude to create many additional jobs within the UK, in accordance with the WTTC.
“China’s economy is growing faster than some other,” continued Scowsill.
“Yet, the united kingdom is currently losing out on thousands of Chinese tourists to our nearby neighbours because Chinese tourists face higher fees and feature to finish an extended application form than in the event that they wish to visit most other countries in Europe.
“Chinese outbound travellers totalled 84 million last year and the united kingdom receives just a small fraction of them
“It’s time for Britain to become component to the Schengen system that gives Chinese visitors the possibility to go to 26 countries in Europe on a single visa.”
Research by the WTTC reveals visa facilitation has historically increased international tourist arrivals of affected markets by five to twenty-five per cent, following the implementation of policy changes.
“Cameron’s promise to loosen visa bureaucracy in India is all well and good, but when he really desires to make a difference to Britain’s economy and create jobs, he must fundamentally reform visa policies for booming economies like China too,” concluded Scowsill.