More than 10.3 million visa applications were submitted in 2023 compared to 2022, a 37% increase. Chinese nationals applied for visas the most of any country throughout the year, with 1.1 million, according to data from the European Commission. China passed Turkiye to reclaim the top rank for the first [...]
A directive from Kuwait advises its residents not to apply for Schengen visas through unapproved middlemen. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning to applicants that using “fake reservations” could result in their visa applications being denied. The Ministry recommended all Kuwaiti individuals who planned to visit the [...]
This year, Thailand is aggressively pursuing free trade and visa-waiver agreements with the European Union. Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee of the Prime Minister’s Office stressed that a free trade agreement will accelerate economic growth for both sides. He emphasized that removing the need for a visa for Thai nationals visiting the [...]
This year, Portugal’s tourism industry reached a major milestone, breaking previous records and contributing more than €54 billion to the country’s economy. A recent estimate from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) states that the tourism industry contributed 20% of the country’s GDP in 2024, a phenomenal gain of [...]
Contrary to rumors that their consular offices have stopped processing visas, Germany, Italy, and Spain have refuted allegations that they have stopped issuing Schengen visas to Turkish nationals. There had been rumors that these nations were no longer issuing visas, but representatives from Germany, Italy, and Spain confirmed that nothing [...]
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has released a travel advise for all potential foreign visitors as May Day and the summer vacation draw closer. Officials are reminding people of the need of having suitable and legal travel documents and are recommending that people check the status of their [...]
The Greek Embassy in Türkiye announced that beginning of April 30, Turkish nationals can visit an extra five Greek Islands with a visa upon arrival. Leros, Lemnos, Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, and Symi are the Aegean islands that have recently been included to the expedited visa program. Before this extension, on April [...]
Based on analysis of major markets such as the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, Turespaña’s Summer Trend Reports show that Spain is still the most popular destination for foreign travelers this summer. The Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism has published its estimates for foreign visitor arrivals and [...]
Bulgaria’s former economy minister, Nikola Stoyanov, recently expressed concern about the country’s ability to enter the Schengen Zone by land borders by 2025. As Stoyanov pointed out, the main economic advantage of Schengen membership is that it makes cross-border movement of goods easier, which emphasizes the importance of Schengen for [...]
Leaders in the travel and tourism sector have predicted that Indian demand for travel to the European Union could soar by as much as 15% in the upcoming months. The recent relaxation of Schengen visa requirements by the EU for bearers of Indian passports is blamed for this upsurge. A [...]