Nurul Islam Hasib
More Bangladeshis are travelling to European Schengen countries now than before that, according to an analyst, reflects a ‘positive’ growth which will continue for several years.
According to Schengen Visa Info, a record 30,585 people applied for Schengen visa from Dhaka in 2018 which was 28,866 in 2017, 23,934 in 2016 and 22,379 in 2015.
The visa approval rate also increased over the years. Of the total applicants, 20,296 Schengen visas were approved in 2018, 19,796 were approved in 2017, 17,310 in 2016, and 16,633 in 2015.
Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor of a tourism magazine Bangladesh Monitor, said the data reflects the true picture.
“Every year Bangladeshi visitors to Europe are rising. It is absolute right. Bangladeshi travelers to Schengen countries are gradually growing,” he told Bangladesh Post.
“It’s a positive growth. This growth will continue for several years,” he said, adding that it also reflects the overall economic growth in Bangladesh. “People have more incomes now. Corporate culture is now more developed here. People have surplus funds.”
One can visit 26 countries using one Schengen visa. The Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
According to a new rule, the visa has been increased to 33.3 percent with the introduction of a new Schengen Visa Code, effective from February 2 next year. It means that Schengen visa applicants will need to pay a fee of €80 instead of €60 per application as it has been so far from February 2.
Kazi Wahidul who is also the founder of travel and event management group, Triune Group, said apart from tourism, people also go to Schengen countries for different exhibition and seminar purposes.
“Overall air traffic movement from Dhaka has also grown. Most tourists are exploring new destinations. Those who used to go Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and other regional countries are changing their destinations and taking different offers from the tour operators to visit Europe,” he said.
“Due to different tour package, the travel has become accessible to the public.” Of the Schengen countries, most people applied for Swedish visa in 2018 followed by Italy – 7,029 and 6,935. In 2017, Italy was the top destination for entry into Europe using Schengen visa followed by Germany – 6,222 and 5,997.
According to new rules, applicants will be able to file an application 6 months in advance of their intended trip to the Schengen area, unlike now, when this period is three months in advance. The latest that an application can be submitted, however, is two weeks.