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INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
The Biometric section at the UK visa application offices. Picture: Damaris Helwig
More than 20 percent of tourists cited the UK as the most problematic at processing visas according to a study by the European Tour Operators Association.
The trade body also revealed the UK was losing more than 300,000 long haul clients annually who had intended to come on holiday but were deterred by the bureaucracy and intrusiveness.
This comes as it emerged London is no longer the world’s premier tourist attraction, according to a study of the top 100 city destinations. The annual list compiled by Euromonitor International shows visitior numbers to Hong Kong and Singapore surged by 18 percent and 16 percent respectively.
By contrast London only had 2.5 percent growth. That’s no fault of the Chinese who are expected to flood in soon to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.
The Chinese were the biggest shoppers last year, with a growth of more than 60 percent in tax-free sales. - Daily Mail
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champagne, wrote
@ @CHAMPAGNE, this article CAME from the Daily Mail. It is only since a few years ago (3 or 4) that SA folk had to get visas for the UK.
lex, wrote
@CHAMPAGNE, wrote
You read the Daily mail. Nuff said. Visa is not only for SA by the way. 20 billion rand maladministration in SA I bet is a hell of a lot more the the UK or any other non-african country has achieved in one year. Ja swaer. The only culture in SA is agriculture. LOL
champagne, wrote
WOW good riddance, what a tirade LOL. The UK introduced the visa for SA because they need money. There is just as much theft and maladministration in the UK as there is here. And yes I agree, I have bypassed the UK in favour of other destinations. And sorry to burst the British bubble, culture does NOT begin and end in the UK. In fact there is WAY more culture in other countries. Just read the daily mail and you'll find out how trashy their current culture is.
Karl, wrote
It has had an economic effect - over the past three years we have flown via Amsterdam or Barcelona instead of via Londonistan - if many more tourists from all over the world are doing this it will have a negative impact on Londonistan
good riddance, wrote
@BrBa. Good, off you go to Thailand or wherever it is you get your culture from. Good riddance to bad rubbish is what I say. You can thank JS for introducing these measures, but it is only because there were so many scumbag foreigners entering UK that they had to do something. Don't most saffas moan about the immigrants (Nigerians, Zim, Moz, etc.) who are in SA illegaly or legally, who are creating chaos. YES. So shut it because I bet you are one. I bet you say to your maatlies, "jislaaik, I wish we could get rid of them. They steal, take our jobs, blah, blah, blah..." Well, it's the same throughout the world. It is just that some countries do something about it.
BrBa, wrote
Re Graham F: Why would you suggestalmost impose your criteria for a holiday on me. I've been to both east and west on numerous occasions, and what I want most from my holidays is hassle free, friendly and efficient services. My point in relation to the article is that a visit to the British Embassy has only ever left me feeling like changing my travel plans. The visa scam introduced by the dishonest, short sighted and fraudulent Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, is definitely my first point of departure when considering a holiday destination.
@Anonymous 1:23, wrote
Do those figures for London include arrivals from the Eurozone? They don't require visas
Anonymous, wrote
@Graham: on Euromonitor International's website you can find the study on the 100 top city destinations which indicates not only the percentage increases but also the number of arrivals: Hong Kong 1 19,973 18.0 Singapore 2 18,297 16.0 London 3 14,581
Graham F, wrote
RE BrBa - It depends what you want to do & see. There are things to do & see in UK that you cannot in Far East and vice versa. The article does not say which is the most popular destination it only compares the percentage increases. That does not mean that overall London does not have more visitors than either HK or Singapore. It is not well written.
OBVIOUS, wrote
RGP you are quite right as far as the south african side of the story is concerned....there's a lot of people out there that don't like hearing the truth to suit their stupidity
Ringmaster, wrote
@RGP - agree. When we last travelled to UK, before visas were required, our SA passports were examined very carefully under magnification by Dutch customs at Schiphol while in transit to UK. It's their country, so they have the right to issue or refuse visas, and accept the consequences.
Anonymous, wrote
@ RGP - are you stupid or can you not read? The issue that processing visa's is problematic for all applicants - not just South Africans.
Adams, wrote
@RGP the 300,000 are not South African only its from all over the world. Sure its why we have to apply for a visa now, but they are requiring these from all over the world now.
Analyst, wrote
RGP, the ridiculous visa red tape metted out by UK embassies is not only to South Africans. Corrupt Home Affairs was just an excuse they used for South Africa. I think allmost Commonwealth countries require transit visa when flying via London, and that has nothing to do with a corrupt Home affairs department in South Africa. As I said earlier, they are just forcing most of us to "boycot" British Airways.
Anonymous, wrote
I don't blame them. With people of all countries just going over and never hitting the road again. I wish SA would be the same
RGP, wrote
The strict visa requirements were implemented because of the rampant corruption of the officials in home affairs selling SA passports to all the criminal underworld. The British govt warned them and gave 12 months in which to ensure only bona fide citizens were issued sa passports. As usual ,on african time ,nothing was done, hence the visa requirements.If ypu have any complaints re the necessity for visas, blame home affairs and corruption in the govt!
BrBa, wrote
I'm not sure if dropping the visa will get me to visit any more. I've found the east far more attractive and of much greater value for my money. Always return with more to show, not just fantastic memories but great goodies, especially the latest tech. The poor service you can expect to find in the UK starts at the British Embassy, where support staff feel the need to treat every tourists like potential threats to national security.
MarkN, wrote
This is not surprising as they have always had this arrogant attitude of being on the earth to relieve The Almighty of a great responsibility.
Analyst, wrote
Not only UK is losing tourists, Brtish Airways is losing passengers. I used to fly to Europe using BA, until when the UK authorities came up with this stupid requirement that I need to have transit visa for UK to fly to my destination via London. From a Gold Executive Club member on BA, I went down to base mebership - I stopped flying via London!
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