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Proposed European Union changes to the Schengen visa system have been welcomed by the World Travel & Tourism Council.
The aim is to shorten and simplify the procedures for those wanting to travel to the EU for short stays, with the objective of boosting economic activity and job creation.
The Schengen area is made up of 22 EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, but excludes the UK.
As part of the announcement the vice-president of the European Commission, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship, Antonia Tajani, said: “Tourism is Europe´s growth engine and has been the most important stronghold of the European economy during the recent crisis.”
The proposals must now be approved by member states and the European Parliament. But approval is not expected until 2015 because the current parliamentary term ends next month.
WTTC president David Scowsill said the planned EU visa change “will simplify and speed up the processing of visas in Europe and ensure more foreign visitors, increased tourism receipts and more jobs at a vital time for the European economy”.
He urged MEPs to vote through the changes and for governments to continue to look for ways in which they can adopt smarter visa and border security policies to bolster travel and tourism as a driver of jobs and economic growth.
“We will continue to push for a fundamental change in the minds of governments – balancing security needs with freedom to travel by moving away from the current approaches to a faster implementation of visa waiver and trusted traveller programmes,” said Scowsill.
“It is rewarding to hear one of Europe’s top commissioners publicly recognising the leading role played by the travel and tourism sector in driving the European economy.
“WTTC speaks on behalf of the sector, with one voice to governments, encouraging them to appreciate the economic and social importance of the industry. WTTC and its members work vigorously for visa reform.”
Pierfrancesco Vago of MSC Crusies, Europe chairman of the Cruise Lines International Association, said: “A smarter visa policy will boost the cruise industry and help us to contribute even more to Europe’s economy, while maintaining a high level of security and control in ships, ports and destinations.
“It will remove red tape for millions of would-be tourists and will facilitate short-stay passengers from emerging economies to maintain a better, positive passenger destination experience.”
Simon Vincent, president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, at Hilton Worldwide, told The Telegraph: “It’s vital that Britain can compete with the Schengen countries for overseas visitors and this announcement underpins yet again why improvements to the UK visa system are so important.
“These need to be driven through quickly and effectively so that the UK does not lose valuable tourism business in a sector worth well in excess of £100 billion per year.”
British Airways’ parent International Airlines Group said: “Europe is opening its doors to high spending Chinese visitors.
“Our European competitors understand that they bring wealth and investment. While the UK claims to be ‘open for business’ it makes it very hard and expensive for the Chinese to do business here. This is costing us jobs and growth.”