ETOA Reports European Visa Applications Deter Tourists

ETOA Reports European Visa Applications Deter Tourists

The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) released a report on visa applications that concludes that the process of applying for a visa to visit Europe is so unpleasant that over 450,000 tourists are deterred from coming. Indian and Chinese tourists applying for visas are most likely encounter bad communication and red tape. Visa processing by the U.K. is identified as that most likely to cause potential visitors to give up on their travel plans, closely followed by France.

More than 58,000 tourists cancelled their trips to the U.K. owing to slow visa processing, and ETOA estimates that nearly 314,000 decided not even to apply. “Applications clearly have to be made available in the applicants’ mother tongue,” said Tom Jenkins, executive director of ETOA. “Not doing so breaks a basic rule of sales and certainly acts as a disincentive to travel. It displays a sweeping arrogance to applicants. It is inconceivable that China would force Europeans to fill out visa applications in Chinese.”

Despite the fact that China has been singled out as one of the most important growth markets for Europe, 26 percent of all potential Chinese clients canceled their trips to Europe because of the slow processing of Schengen Visas. Before being granted a visa to come to the U.K., Chinese citizens have to fill out forms in English and present themselves at a consulate, where they are fingerprinted and interrogated about their life, wealth and prospects. As part of this process, some applicants are denied visas, but a greater number give up because the process is too painful or takes too long. Germany was ranked as the best consular authority at processing visas -- with punctuality, speed, flexibility and friendliness being the most important factors.

ETOA’s survey of tour operators and agents, which was conducted over the summer, focused on origin markets whose citizens must obtain a visa to visit the EU. These markets represent key growth opportunities for EU tourism. “The cancellations caused by problematic visa processing have repercussions,” Jenkins said. “It is not an easy decision to go to Europe. It is harder to then publicly change your mind. That Europe is perceived as slow and bureaucratic is a major disincentive in itself.” Conservative estimates by the European Tour Operators Association put the financial loss to the European Union caused by poor visa processing at over 500 million euros per year.

Since its foundation in 1989, ETOA has grown exponentially to include over 500 member organizations, of which more than 150 are tour operators. Collectively, ETOA represents over 5 billion euros in spending on accommodation and travel services annually. ETOA provides representation at European government level for organizations involved in bringing tourists to Europe.

The association promotes greater awareness of the benefits provided by the group travel industry in Europe -- particularly increased income and employment. ETOA also influences European tourism policy and legislation. Areas of specific activity include: promoting Europe as a tourism destination; establishing codes of conduct and guidelines for its members; establishing commercial opportunities between buyers and sellers; working with other travel and tourism associations to raise the industry’s profile.