Monday, 18 June 2012

Ease visa norms: World Tourism Forum tells G20


World tourism forums have insisted that the tourism sector should be considered as the growth engine of an economy and to tap its potentials, governments should look at easing visa processes and remove unnecessary visa restrictions that have been established as the greatest deterrent for a tourist.
“Increasing travel and tourism demand through visa facilitation can stimulate job creation, a priority given the high current unemployment levels,” the forums said.
According to a research study conducted by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), G20 economies could boost their global tourist numbers by an additional 122 million, generate an extra $206 billion in tourism exports and create over five million more jobs by 2015 by improving visa processes and entry formalities.
Preliminary findings show that of the 656 million international tourists who visited G20 countries in 2011, an estimated 110 million needed a visa, many of whom deterred from traveling by the cost, waiting time and difficulty of obtaining a visa.
Facilitating visas for these tourists, could stimulate demand, spending and ultimately create millions of new jobs in the G20 economies.
By facilitating visas, the G20 countries stand to gain five million jobs at a time of rampant unemployment across the world.
http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article545626.ece

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