This Is Why the UK Has Decided to Open Its Doors to the Gulf and Jordanian Tourist Funds

As part of its efforts to introduce improvements in the visa system for visitors and tourists to support its economy, the United Kingdom has recently approved a new electronic travel authorization system. Jordanian citizens and those from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will be the first beneficiaries of this system.

In a statement issued on June 6, 2023, the British government announced the lifting of visa requirements for citizens of the GCC countries and Jordan who wish to visit the United Kingdom.

The application process for the new electronic travel authorization, known as the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system, will be simple and quick, with a fee of only £10 (approximately $12.4).

Since the entire process is digital and can be completed through a mobile application, individuals will need to provide details about their passport information, a digital photograph, and answer a set of appropriate questions to obtain the travel authorization.

 

When?

The plan is scheduled to be launched for citizens of Qatar in October/November 2023, followed by the rest of the GCC countries and Jordan in February 2024. This will align their requirements with others, particularly holders of American and Australian passports.

After paying the fee, citizens of the Gulf countries and Jordan will be allowed multiple entries to the UK for a period of two years without any additional costs.

This new British program for electronic visit authorization will be expanded globally in 2024.

The statement emphasized that Gulf visitors are of great value to the UK economy, as over 790,000 Gulf visitors spent a total of £2 billion during their stays in the United Kingdom in 2022.

In this context, the British Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick, stated that visitors from the Gulf countries and Jordan make a significant contribution to the tourism industry in the United Kingdom, and the new plan will make it easier and more affordable for them to travel to the UK.

On the other hand, the British Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, Lord Ahmed, said that he is pleased that UK partners across the Gulf and Jordan will be the first to benefit from the new electronic travel authorization system in the United Kingdom.

This plan is further evidence of the strong partnership between the UK and the countries in the region.

Lord Ahmed added that by reducing costs and visa requirements, the plan ensures that visitors from the Gulf countries and Jordan can easily travel to the United Kingdom, thereby enhancing trade and tourism relations.

Previously, citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries obtained a visa to the UK for £30 (approximately $37) per separate visit. Currently, they can obtain it electronically, linked to their passport, for £10.

As for Jordan, citizens used to apply for a visa and were required to prepare a set of supporting documents through an embassy intermediary. However, now they can obtain the visa electronically (online) for £10.

Jordan's inclusion in the same visa treatment as Gulf countries aligns with the United Kingdom's aim to broaden its travel network to include stable nations that have a lower likelihood of generating refugees.

Jordan is a country without political disturbances, ensuring the return of its citizens to their home country.

Despite these new facilitations by the UK for Jordanian citizens, there is a security review of the applicant, including their criminal record and financial situation. Hence, not all Jordanian citizens who apply for a visa will be granted one.

These new measures from the British government align with its earlier announcement in 2023 regarding plans to introduce a new eTA scheme as part of digitizing the UK borders by 2025, aimed at enhancing border security and customer experience.

 

The Importance of Gulf Nationals

Observers emphasize that the new facilitations for Gulf nationals to travel to the UK are a result of the visit made by the British Minister for Business in May 2023 to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to negotiate a trade deal between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The GCC countries are the UK's seventh-largest export market, and demand for British goods and services is expected to increase to nearly £1 trillion ($1.25 trillion) by 2035, representing a growth of around 75%, according to the Monitor website.

According to an analysis conducted by the UK government, a trade deal between the United Kingdom and the Gulf countries has the potential to boost trade by at least 16% and contribute a minimum of £1.6 billion ($2 billion) annually to the British economy.

London's efforts to simplify entry for Gulf nationals by expanding the number of visitors from Gulf countries reflect the importance of Gulf tourists to the United Kingdom, especially since in 2019, 1.2 million Gulf tourists visited the UK and spent £2.6 billion, making Gulf tourists the second-highest spenders globally after American tourists.

One of the factors that encourages citizens of the Gulf countries to visit the UK, in particular, is their interest in sports in general, football specifically, and the English Premier League in particular.

Additionally, their love for shopping in London compared to other foreign tourists has also played a role. This led to the establishment of an advisory committee in the UK to provide advice to retailers on how to cater to Gulf tourists, especially those traveling with their families.

Furthermore, Gulf nationals are interested in English cuisine, in addition to the suitable weather and their proficiency in the English language.

In 2014, London's Sloane Street hosted events to introduce Gulf tourists to the shopping opportunities available in London.

 

Economic Factor

The Conservative government, led by Rishi Sunak, aims to curb the increasing immigration, especially after the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, Brexit, on January 31, 2020, following 47 years of membership.

The UK has experienced high immigration rates, with half a million people between June 2021 and June 2022.

As a result, the UK has been facing a shortage of workforce, especially in the agriculture and healthcare sectors, which has had an impact on its economy following Brexit.

In recent times, the UK has implemented new measures regarding entry, particularly in terms of restricting family reunification for students, a move that universities consider to have an impact on their revenue.

Therefore, the British government announced on May 25, 2023, the imposition of stricter restrictions on family reunification for international students.

This measure will come into effect in January 2024 and will apply to all students except for postgraduate researchers.

In 2022, approximately 136,000 entry visas were issued to international students, compared to 16,000 in 2019, according to government figures.

Additionally, international students will no longer be able to switch from a student visa to a work visa before completing their studies.

These measures have raised concerns among prestigious universities, which fear losing an important source of revenue as international students often pay high tuition fees to enroll in their institutions.

The Russell Group, representing academic institutions such as Cambridge and Oxford, stated that the government's measures could affect efforts to diversify the international student population.

Given these circumstances, it seems that the UK is seeking to expand its tourism sector, hoping to compensate for its economic setbacks, especially those experienced following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Monetary Fund stated in January 2023 that the UK is on track to be the only country among the Group of Seven industrialized nations to experience a contraction in 2023 due to several factors, including inflation remaining above 10%.