Starmer faces an investigation after 'neglecting to disclose' that Labour donor Alli covered the cost of a personal shopper, clothes and alterations
world20 hours ago
The changes in the federal visa rule, which took effect on July 29, requires a Dh1,000 deposit for each tourist visa, a cost borne primarily by the travel agents.
For travel agents with a visa quota of 1,000, this would mean a deposit of Dh1 million.
However, a Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department official said the authority was working towards a flexible solution for tourism companies.
Travco UAE chief operating officer Osama Bushra said his agency was considering passing on the costs to their partner agencies in other countries.
"We're looking at sharing the costs and the responsibility with our partner organisations 50-50, but most won't agree," he said.
Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG) manager Leo Fewtrell said ultimately travellers would suffer if the ongoing costs travel agencies faced pushed small or medium-sized companies out of business.
"Your Dnatas and Al Rais Travel can cope but it's a problem for the medium guys that are doing a good business and keeping those guys in check and keeping prices reasonable, " he said.
However, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing India Inbound coordinator Kulwant Singh said the deposits would ensure greater responsibility by unscrupulous agents who had previously helped illegal workers in the country.
Additionally, he said, visit visas provided by corrupt agents would now be too high for illegal workers to consider.
Singh, also managing director of Lama Tours, said although there remained some confusion among agencies about the rules, the new system had been working well and turnover time for tourist visa applications had been dramatically reduced - often to just a few hours.
Entry Permit Department Director Major Mohammed Al Hammadi told Khaleej Times on Wednesday that a mechanism will be put in place next week on the kind of flexibility in dealing with the tourism companies as far as the Dh1,000 deposit condition is concerned.
"We are working on a framework which would be convenient and considerate towards the tourism companies.
"We reiterated over and over again to tourism companies and their PROs recently that we were trying to sort out some mechanism related to the modalities of payment of the Dh1,000 deposit," Major Al Hammadi said.
zoe@khaleejtimes.com
mary@khaleejtimes.com
Starmer faces an investigation after 'neglecting to disclose' that Labour donor Alli covered the cost of a personal shopper, clothes and alterations
world20 hours ago
China says Manila's actions infringe on its sovereignty
world20 hours ago
In the Czech Republic, a quarter of a million homes were without power due to high winds and rain
world21 hours ago
US-educated Jaafar Hassan, now head of King Abdullah's office and a former planning minister, is expected to replace Khasawneh
world21 hours ago
The group called on RSF and SAF to take action against 'perpetrators of war crimes and violations of international law, including international humanitarian law'
world22 hours ago
Loud booms were also heard in the region, which the military said came from missile interceptors that had been launched
world23 hours ago
The blast occurred as the victims were trying to retrieve fuel that was leaking from the truck
world1 day ago
MWL Secretary General stressed the need for unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians by opening all crossings
world1 day ago