The cost of a six-month UK visa for non-Europeans increases today from £36 to £50, five days before the International Olympic Committee makes its decision on the venue for 2012.
London was believed to be second in the race behind Paris as bid chairman Lord Sebastian Coe and chief executive Keith Mills flew to Singapore for the final round of voting on Wednesday.
However, France is part of continental Europe’s Schengen visa scheme that gives access to 15 countries for 30 days – twice the length of the two-week event – for just £15.
In a heated meeting on Monday, UK tourism organisations, including VisitBritain, UKinbound, Tourism Alliance and the European Tour Operators Association – told UK Visas London’s chances of overtaking Paris could falter on the home straight due to the increased cost of a UK visa.
UKinbound chief executive Stephen Dowd slammed the timing of the increase. He said it could overshadow the good work UK tourism organisations have done in preparing the bid. Dowd cited set rates for 35,000 rooms hosting competitors, officials, sponsors and journalists of $200 a night – less than half the Paris price. “The timing is unfortunate. It damages the UK’s competitiveness despite the fact we have worked hard to put together an attractive package.”
A UK Visas spokeswoman understood the industry’s fears but said: “The operation has to be self-financing and it has been in deficit for some time. We had to do it as soon as possible or the increase would have been higher. The price is low compared to the cost of a UK trip.”
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman dismissed industry concerns: “It’s a tenuous link. We have a strong bid and the price increase will not impact on it.”
No-one from the London 2012 bid was prepared to comment.