By
Rebecca Gibson |
European Commission (EC) proposals to review the Visa Code could open up new source markets and boost the economy of the European cruise industry, according to CLIA Europe.
Aimed at boosting economic activity and the job market within the European tourism sector, the proposals call for the procedures for tourists wanting to come into countries in the European Union for short stays to be shortened and simplified. Other plans include shortening the application examination deadline, the possibility of lodging a visa application up to six months in advance and establishing a clearer set of procedural rules, including a simpler and exhaustive list of supporting documents.
Suggested proposals to issue short-tem visas at external borders will benefit the cruise industry, which will support the EC to clearly define categories of beneficiaries and the geographical scope. The cruise industry will also closely follow the developments regarding multiple entry visa, consular cooperation and the concept of 'mandatory representation', which all have potential positive implications for both tourists and seafarers.
A recent EC study indicated that improving the visa policy could lead to significant increases in voyages from emerging countries such as China, India and Russia, which are considered as potential source markets for the European cruise industry. This could significantly boost the industry, which already generates 327,000 jobs and €37.9 billion of economic benefits each year.
“We strongly welcome the EC proposal, which will radically improve the European visa policy, and we will continue to keep the pressure on the political institutions to ensure a swift implementation,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, CLIA Europe’s chairman. “A smarter visa policy will boost the cruise industry and help us to contribute even more to Europe's economy, while maintaining a high level of security and control in ships, ports and destinations. It will remove red tape for millions of would-be tourists and will facilitate short stay passengers from emerging economies to maintain a better positive passenger destination experience.”
According to Robert Ashdown, secretary general of CLIA Europe, the organisation will work with its member states to ensure that the new proposals could be implemented quickly if they are approved. “We now urge the Council and European Parliament to work together to achieve a first reading agreement, in order for the new Visa Code to enter into force without delay,” he said. “In order to deliver the maximum benefit, a strong commitment will be needed from member states to provide adequate resources to make the new processes practicable.”