Visa delay deter travel to UK
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The popular destination of UK seems to have lost its sheen, with many travellers fed up with the delays involved in getting a visa, Times of India reported.According to travel agents, tourism from the city to UK over the last few months has fallen by some 20-30%. Sources in the industry were quoted saying that many small-sized city travel agencies were suspending trips to the UK, since the delay and consequent trip cancellations meant huge losses for them.Amarjit Lidder, Chairperson of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), was reported saying that in recent years, the number of visa applications had risen substantially.”Usually travellers like to land in the UK and then go on a tour of Europe, since flying into the UK is cheaper. Now, because of the delay in getting a UK visa, a wait of anything up to two months, there has been a 20% drop. We recently routed two groups of travellers to Paris though they had earlier wanted to go to the UK,” he was quoted saying.Sohail Zaveri, Executive Director of a tour and travel company, also quoted a 20% drop in tourism to the UK. “The travellers, who had intended to visit the UK, have now altered their itinerary. Last year, we had about 150 travellers going to the UK during the summer. This year, only 90-odd travellers have been able to go. Some dropped their plans, while others opted for Shengen countries like Switzerland and Germany.”He had said that those who had earlier travelled to the UK or Shengen countries in the past three years got their visas within a period of two weeks but those who had never travelled there before were facing the delay. “Their applications are subject to tighter scrutiny. The delay in receiving UK visas has been more conspicuous since April 15,” Zaveri was quoted saying.Shireen Mistry, Head Of Communications and Public Affairs, British Deputy High Commission, Mumbai, was quoted saying, “Our experience this year is that an unprecedented number of travellers are seeking to visit the UK, and this has resulted in an intense rush for visas. “The visa processing time lines are well publicised on our website and that of the Visa Facilitation Services (VFS), where applications are received. We urge visitors to the UK to apply as early as possible to avoid any inconvenience or disappointment. As long as travel is planned adequately in advance and documents are in order, there should be no problem.”
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