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British consulate made a rebate for Russian tour operators

20:30, 20 февраля 2012

On February 15 at a meeting of British consulate officials with Russian tour operators, the parties discussed a matter of new consular fees payment procedure that was implemented by UK Border Agency on February 13 and aroused numerous disapprovals from the travel trade. For one, Meridian Express Company appealed to Russian Union of Travel Industry seeking assistance in getting in touch with the consulate and asking them to take into consideration the interests of tourists and tour operators before introducing new regulations.

 

Let us remind you that from now on the payments should be done online before visiting any of five UK visa application centers in Russia, where an applicant needs to provide a printed copy of visa application form and undergo the collection of biometrical data. The fees should be paid in US dollars by the applicant’s credit card. The latter rule – lack of alternative form of payment - is what confuses the tour operators most. In case a tourist doesn’t have a credit card, he just can’t pay directly to a visa application center in cash. Besides, the new scheme doesn’t imply the presence of a tour operator, even though they account for a significant share of the tourist flow to the UK.

 

However the meeting at the consulate showed that the British sincerely want to resolve these issues. “The head of UK visa department and regional manager for UK Border Agency for Russia, Ukraine and Belorussia Mr. Andy McFarlin once again confirmed that the consulate appreciated the tour operators’ contribution to the development of tourism to the UK from Russia and that they by no means wish to confine their operations or cause any problems” – told RATA-news Director General of Meridian Express Mr. Alan Sautiyev. According to his words, in such situation tour operators should get corporate credit cards and use them to pay for their customers’ visas. “It is a nice move indeed, but the accounting control remains an issue. In order to process this kind of payments we will need relevant documents. UK visa service’s officials promised to look into this matter and to discuss it with UK Border Control Agency, who happens to be an initiator and a beneficiary of the payments. Perhaps they’ll be sending us monthly reports on the processed payments – original letters with all necessary signatures and seals” – revealed Mr. Sautiyev.

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