New UK visa rules to increase UAE tourists by 40% in 2020
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – Effective Q1 2014, citizens from the aforementioned three Gulf states visiting the UK, will be able to obtain a free electronic visa waiver 48 hours prior to their planned departure, which replaces the current visa application process. The waiver is also set to be extended to Kuwaiti nationals later next year.
Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will be held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 5-8 May 2014, is anticipating a surge of exhibition enquiries from UK based travel and hospitality companies following the recent lifting of visa requirements for UAE, Oman and Qatar nationals travelling to the UK.
“London is a perennial favourite among GCC travellers who flock to the capital in the summer months in search of cooler temperatures as well as to take advantage of the fantastic shopping, entertainment options and luxury hotel accommodation. VisitBritain’s (The British government-backed national tourism agency) 2020 forecast increase of up to 40% more UAE tourists choosing to spend time in the city, is great news for UK tourism,” said Mark Walsh, portfolio director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of ATM 2014.
“Following the announcement we have already received a number of enquiries from UK-based companies eager to capitalise on the opportunity with first-time presence at ATM 2014, and we expect increased participation from a diverse cross-section of tourism and hospitality companies representing the UK as well,” added Walsh.
According to John Calthorpe, managing director, Pavilion Expo Limited, the organiser of the UK Pavillion at ATM, UK representation at the show will be buoyed by the news: “The 37% increase in visitors that VisitBritian announced from last year, has the possibility of being dwarfed by this visa waiver programme, with the initiative encouraging more frequent short breaks from the region.”
Source : AT N.COM
