All Ireland approach needed to attract tourism from emerging markets
Posted by Bronwen Maher on January 10, 2011 at 03:22 PM
Schengen zone entry key for tourists from emerging markets like China, India & Brazil
Labour MEP Nessa Childers today called on her Northern Ireland counterparts to break with British government policy and consider joining the Republic on EU visa policy to boost tourism numbers from emerging markets like China and India.
The UK and Ireland are currently outside Europe’s Schengen zone, within which people can cross borders without passport checks. The EU harmonised many of the Schengen rules last year to speed up and standardise visa procedures for travellers to Europe. Schengen embraces 22 EU countries and three non-EU nations - Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
Ireland East MEP Childers said "Due to our common land border, the Republic of Ireland cannot join the Schengen Zone without the UK. However, I believe the Northern Ireland and the Republic should consider joining the zone in order to attract visitors from emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil. Unless we do so I fear that Ireland is at risk of losing out on this lucrative market.
"If the new and rapidly expanding Chinese middle class wish to tour Europe, they only need one visa to visit Paris, Berlin and Rome. If they travel to Dublin or Belfast however, they need a separate visa which involves a huge amount of extra red tape and visa-application hassle.
“This means that potential tourists are turned off the prospect of visiting Ireland. When Switzerland joined the Schengen area in 2008, it really took off as a stop on Chinese tours, spending big money locally as they travel.
"Just last week, respected international travel guide Frommers rated Ireland as the world's top destination in 2011. Authorities north and south, and those of us who are concerned with economic development in the border regions should be trying to make it easier for tourists to enjoy what the entire island of Ireland has to offer.
“I have today written to my colleagues from each of the main Northern Irish parties asking for their support on this issue. In these depressed economic times, common sense must prevail and I will be urging my Northern Irish MEP colleagues to impress upon the Northern Ireland Executive to join in this push for an all-Ireland entry into the Schengen visa zone."
