JEDDAH, 25 December 2004 -- Local expats, especially those traveling for business and leisure, have welcomed Bahrain's initiative to simplify the immigration process with e-visa.
Both expats and travel agents said over the weekend that this was a positive move. "This is something some of the other Gulf and Middle Eastern countries could follow," said Arshad Muhammad Chaudhry, a Pakistani electrical engineer.
"This move provides a big relief to us travel agents who have to face many inquiries of this nature daily," a Kanoo Travel executive said.
Similar views were echoed by other expats, including Indians, Africans and Westerners. Bahrain has termed the move as a "necessary measure to meet the drive for fast and seamless immigration processes for leisure and business travelers."
The Bahrain e-visa project comes as the topic of visa restrictions is widely discussed and debated. "Bahrain is the first country in the region and one of the few countries in the world to issue online visit visas to simplify and fast track its immigration processes, a senior Bahraini official said. An average of 1,500 visas are downloaded a month, with numbers expected to double during the next 12 months.
The e-visa initiative is the first phase of a drive to move all of Bahrain's immigration processes online. "For too long, the issue of visas in the Arab world has blighted the attempts of the tourism authorities especially to stimulate visitor numbers. We're pioneering the switch to e-visas as part of our strategy to become a tourism destination of the future," said Bader Nasser, head of marketing for tourism affairs for the government of Bahrain.
Residents of 33 countries outside the GCC can apply online at www.evisa.gov.bh, allowing them to download their visit visa anywhere in the world before traveling to Bahrain.
"While the ideal scenario is still a single visa for the Arab world to facilitate travel between the Gulf states, we've to look at new and innovative ways to make the immigration process as smooth and simple as possible for international visitors," Nasser said.
The visit visas are valid for two weeks for a fee of seven Bahraini dinars ($18.50). As per the existing practice, GCC resident expats can get their visas on arrival in Bahrain, but the e-visa facility, if utilized, can help reduce the time involved in the completion of the visa process. In addition, the downloaded visa removes the need to pay in local currency.
The issue of one visa for the Arab world is included for discussion at the first Arabian Hotel Investment Conference being held in Dubai from April 30 to May 2, Nasser said. "Indeed, a majority of our advisory panel of 50 regional tourism leaders identified visa restrictions as a challenge in this marketplace. This initiative from Bahrain has shown how governments can harness technology to improve efficiency and therefore service," he added.
K.S. Ramkumar Arab News
© Arab News 2004
