ID :
137435
Fri, 08/13/2010 - 08:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/137435
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Cameron woos Indian tourists with easier visas
UK-VISAS
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Aug 12 (PTI) British Prime Minister David
Cameron Thursday said visa restrictions would be eased for
Indians to promote Britain's tourism industry amid surge in
cash-rich Indian visitors shopping in London's plush West End.
Calling for a focus on tourism, Cameron said the
industry, which contributed 115 billion pounds to the national
economy annually, was "fundamental to the rebuilding of our
economy" given its potential to generate jobs and revenue.
One of the ways to boost tourism in the coming years
will be to ease the process of issuing visitors visas to
people from India and China.
He said: "We're going to remove some of the obstacles
that put people off coming here, for example, by working more
closely with our international partners to improve the local
delivery of visa services in key markets like China and
India."
He said online applications for visas will be
increased from one third to 75 per cent by 2011, with 100
per cent coverage by 2014.
The government will also give more power to local
authorities to set tourism policy and remove bureaucracy that
discourages small businesses, he said.
Cameron's visa announcement comes amidst new figures
that reveal a record number of Indian shoppers scoured
London's West End and other stores across Britain for luxury
goods between June 2009 and June 2010.
Figures released to PTI reveal the growing
international mobility of Indian tourists, whose number jumped
by a record 89 per cent during the period, according to
research by financial services company Global Blue.
The analysis was collected from over 15,000 stores in
Britain.
Nigel Dasler, vice-president of Global Blue, which
manages over 38,000 shopper transactions each day across 40
markets, said: "Over the past few years, we had great
expectations for sales growth of Indian shoppers in the UK
which did not materialise".
He added: "However, in 2009/2010, India has become an
important market for the UK. We are following the trend of
Indian shoppers to the luxury sector in the UK and have noted
an increase in their average spend from June 2009 to June
2010. This may be an indication of the growing wealth of the
country."
Cameron said UK tourism must focus on "heritage" and
urged people to be more "proud" of the UK and its history.
The country was not "doing enough" to break into the
top five most-visited destinations in the world, he added.
PTI PS
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Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Aug 12 (PTI) British Prime Minister David
Cameron Thursday said visa restrictions would be eased for
Indians to promote Britain's tourism industry amid surge in
cash-rich Indian visitors shopping in London's plush West End.
Calling for a focus on tourism, Cameron said the
industry, which contributed 115 billion pounds to the national
economy annually, was "fundamental to the rebuilding of our
economy" given its potential to generate jobs and revenue.
One of the ways to boost tourism in the coming years
will be to ease the process of issuing visitors visas to
people from India and China.
He said: "We're going to remove some of the obstacles
that put people off coming here, for example, by working more
closely with our international partners to improve the local
delivery of visa services in key markets like China and
India."
He said online applications for visas will be
increased from one third to 75 per cent by 2011, with 100
per cent coverage by 2014.
The government will also give more power to local
authorities to set tourism policy and remove bureaucracy that
discourages small businesses, he said.
Cameron's visa announcement comes amidst new figures
that reveal a record number of Indian shoppers scoured
London's West End and other stores across Britain for luxury
goods between June 2009 and June 2010.
Figures released to PTI reveal the growing
international mobility of Indian tourists, whose number jumped
by a record 89 per cent during the period, according to
research by financial services company Global Blue.
The analysis was collected from over 15,000 stores in
Britain.
Nigel Dasler, vice-president of Global Blue, which
manages over 38,000 shopper transactions each day across 40
markets, said: "Over the past few years, we had great
expectations for sales growth of Indian shoppers in the UK
which did not materialise".
He added: "However, in 2009/2010, India has become an
important market for the UK. We are following the trend of
Indian shoppers to the luxury sector in the UK and have noted
an increase in their average spend from June 2009 to June
2010. This may be an indication of the growing wealth of the
country."
Cameron said UK tourism must focus on "heritage" and
urged people to be more "proud" of the UK and its history.
The country was not "doing enough" to break into the
top five most-visited destinations in the world, he added.
PTI PS
RDM
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.
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