U.S. Travel Association: European Union Understands Effective Visa Policy

Earlier this week, the European Union announced plans to relax  tourist visa rules for travel to the EU borderless Schengen area, a zone comprising 26 countries that have abolished passport or any other type of border control in between their common borders. It functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. 

According to a story in the Economic Times of India, the main obstacles in the current visa system include long wait times both to get an appointment with consular offices and to be issued a visa, and the need to prepare and submit complex supporting documents. With the proposals for new EU laws, getting a decision on a visa application should take no longer than 10 calendar days. The proposal may also ease the rules for supporting documentation and eliminate the visa fee for minors under the age of 18.

Today, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued a statement on the change:

"The EU's visa policy changes signal an understanding of two critical points: one, that visa rules can become more inclusive with absolutely no compromise on security; and two, drawing more international visitors is one of the easiest and most potent ways to boost the economy of any region. Brussels is to be congratulated for these visionary measures that are going to pay immediate and tangible dividends for the Eurozone.

"If U.S. political leaders are under the impression that it doesn't matter what they're doing across the pond, they should think again. Global travel is an incredibly competitive marketplace, with trillions of dollars at stake. We need to be doing everything we can across a number of policy areas—destination marketing, visa issuance, air travel infrastructure and the Customs entry process, to name a few—to make sure international travelers decide to come with their dollars to the United States. This latest move by the EU is a reminder that unless we remain vigilant, we risk falling behind."

Map courtesy of the European Commission