Your European travel plans this year may get scuttled due to inordinate delays in the Schengen visa application process.
Travellers initiating their visa application process as early as April are having to wait for two to three months to get their visa appointments scheduled. The situation is particularly true for those eyeing Scandinavian destinations, where stringent documentation requirements add to the travellers’ woes.
Despite diligently providing all the requisite documents, including proof of return air tickets, confirmed hotel bookings, and comprehensive travel insurance, securing a visa appointment remains a tough task for travellers.
According to travel operators, only those who planned their Europe escapades as early as Jan this year are able to travel to Europe by the end of April or in May.
Summer holiday bookings command about 60% of a travel company’s annual revenues, and Europe comprises a significant portion here.
Delay in the visa appointment is dampening travel plans and this is affecting revenues of travel companies as well. Airfares and hotel accommodation costs have already increased, and last-minute cancellation of bookings in the absence of an approved visa will leave customers bearing hefty cancellation charges.
Even if one makes the bookings today, the earliest appointment will be available in June, translating into travel in July. Such a huge timeline often disrupts travel plans and also poses logistical challenges for planning group tours.
The repercussions, therefore, are severe for those time-pressed for their travel. Moreover, travellers are compelled to incur a financial burden of non-refundable flight tickets or hefty cancellation charges for flights and accommodations.
Travel companies say the critical task of issuance or refusal of a visa is entirely at the discretion of the respective governments and applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments.
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