The “huge potential” of attracting non-EU cruise passengers to Europe is being hampered by visa red tape, according to a cruise industry leader.
European Cruise Council chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio called for action to simplify the process of issuing tourist visas.
Speaking at the Seatrade Med cruise convention in Marseille, he said: “The opportunities to attract cruise tourists from other parts of the world to Europe – with its unique and rich cultural heritage – are enormous.
“We are concerned, however, that this huge potential is being hampered by unnecessarily bureaucratic procedures for the issuing of tourist visas into Europe.
“Unlocking this potential would be greatly assisted by international action to facilitate and simplify the process of issuing tourist visas to cruise passengers from around the world wishing to experience a European cruise.”
Lefebvre d’Ovidio said he was encouraged that EU institutions, notably Commission vice president Antonio Tajani, have recognised an urgent need for action to encourage inbound tourism.
But he said political will was now needed to simplify the visa process.
The number of people who chose a cruise holiday in Europe more than doubled in the past decade to over 5.6 million passengers in 2011. About one million of these are non-European nationals.
Passengers and crew spent an estimated €3.5 billion during visits to 250 European ports last year, according to ECC data.