The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) has written to all the European Consulates and Embassies in India, requesting them to streamline the visa processes and guidelines
With outbound travel picking up and a large number of Indians travelling abroad for holidays, the demand for visas has gone up manifold. It is expected to rise further due to the ongoing summer travel rush. The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) has written to all the European Consulates and Embassies in India, requesting them to streamline the visa processes and guidelines. The association said that it strongly felt timely and generous cooperation on part of the Embassies and Consulates would help ease the visa process and motivate more Indians to travel abroad, reported ETTravelWorld.
In a detailed letter sent to all European Consulates and Embassies, OTOAI has explained the various problems and issues being faced by Indian outbound travellers. These include a long wait time for getting a visa appointment (as long as 4 weeks) and visa process time after submission of documents (taking almost 4-5 weeks).
“We strongly believe that it is only through our joined and concerted efforts that we will be able to go back to the outbound figures of pre-pandemic levels. Outbound travel agents are losing revenue and clients because of visa delays and we would humbly request the Consulate and Embassies to look into the problem on a priority basis and take immediate action.”
— Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI
OTOAI also mentioned that many travellers, who were booking their holidays through travel agents, book their air tickets and hotel bookings, which they then have to cancel if the visa does not come well in time. It said that the embassies often released a couple of passports in a family and held one or two passports back causing uncertainty, anxiety, and losses to travel agents and tour operators. The association also sought clarity and indication on when one should expect the visa to come through after submitting documents.
Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, said, “We, at OTOAI, are committed to uplift outbound travel from India and are willing to assist the Embassies in any way possible. We understand that the
Embassies currently are overwhelmed with a large number of visa applications, and we would be happy to help them out, in whichever way we can, to ease their burden.”
“We strongly believe that it is only through our joined and concerted efforts that we will be able to go back to the outbound figures of pre-pandemic levels. Outbound travel agents are losing revenue and clients because of visa delays and we would humbly request the Consulate and Embassies to look into the problem on a priority basis and take immediate action,” Munshi said.
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