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European Travel Commission

Europe losing share of global tourism – ETC assesses benefits of visa reform

A 4% growth in tourism demand can be achieved by bringing visa processes in line with current ‘best practice’, which involves lower fees, simpler paperwork, streamlined processes and better information sharing (for example between airlines and visa issuing bodies).

BRUSSELS / LONDON – Europe is losing its share of global tourism arrivals. Within a few years, the continent is expected to host the minority of the world’s tourists for the first time in history. Europe’s current visa regimes are a contributory factor in this decline because visa obligations deter many legitimate leisure and business tourists due to the complicated processes, processing times and expense associated with obtaining a visa.

The European Travel Commission has briefed Tourism Economics to undertake an economic analysis of the impact an improved visa regime would have for 10 priority source markets, China, Russia, India, Turkey, Indonesia, Belarus, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Thailand, which together account for more than half (53%) of the visa-constrained visits to European destinations. Preliminary results suggest that arrivals from these markets to European destinations would increase by up to 70%.

Further preliminary findings indicate that a 4% growth in tourism demand can be achieved by bringing visa processes in line with current ‘best practice’, which involves lower fees, simpler paperwork, streamlined processes and better information sharing (for example between airlines and visa issuing bodies). Increasing validity periods of existing visas and offering easier renewal processes for those who have successfully applied for a visa in the past would also have positive impacts.

Offering new types of visa that are easier for travellers to obtain, such as an e-visa or visa on arrival, would further reduce the burden on potential travellers, leading to 8% higher average annual growth. Offering a visa waiver to travellers from trusted source markets would result in an increase in demand of over 16% per year.

Depending on the extent of visa reform, adopting such policies could generate between 3 and 19 million additional visitors per year for Europe by 2020, creating thousands of new jobs without compromising security or risking any undesirable immigration.

The complete findings of the study and recommendations for action will be presented on Tuesday 3rd November at World Travel Market 2015.

Mark Henry, Vice-President, European Travel Commission
Mark Henry coordinates ETC’s action to seek improved visa regimes for leisure travellers in Europe, which is essential for the continent to maximise its share of global tourism growth in the decades ahead. He is also Central Marketing Director at Tourism Ireland.

David Goodger, Director, Tourism Economics
David Goodger has been instrumental in developing the global model of tourism flows and spending, which covers 190 origin and destination markets. He manages the regular forecast updates requiring in depth analysis using the existing suite of Oxford Economics’ models at a global, national and regional level.

Helen Marano, VP Government & Industry Affairs, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
WTTC is currently working with governments around the world on visa reform. Prior to joining WTTC, Helen headed up the U.S. government’s National Travel and Tourism Office in the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she was closely involved in communicating the need for improving a highly restrictive visa application process. This lay the groundwork for future progress, including opening the U.S. to the Chinese group travel market.

Opening remarks by Peter De Wilde, President, European Travel Commission.

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