Visa cuts hit outbound travellers, workers – travel business dips 60%

Summary:

• Visa restrictions cause difficulties for Bangladeshi travellers and workers
• Overstay allegations lead to visa suspension in Southeast Asian nations
• UAE, Oman, and Malaysia restrict migrant workers due to issues
• E-visa system complicates Thai visa applications, reducing approvals
• European and Turkish visa issuance becomes limited, reducing tourism
• Indonesia now requires interviews, local guarantors, and high visa fees

Outbound travellers and aspiring migrant workers from Bangladesh are facing increasing difficulties in securing visas for popular destinations, as several countries have unofficially imposed "visa restrictions", while others are issuing limited visas due to allegations of overstays, according to outbound tour operators.

The situation has not only caused hardship for thousands of medical, business, and leisure tourists but has also reduced job opportunities for Bangladeshis in countries like the UAE, Malaysia, and Oman, they say.

The impact has been severe, with the Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Forum (BOTOF) reporting a 60% decline in sales since last December, affecting around 42,000 employees working in the sector.

Tour operators say India, a major destination for Bangladeshi tourists, imposed visa restrictions on Bangladeshi travellers following the fall of the Awami League government amid a mass uprising.

Additionally, at least 10 other countries have introduced similar restrictions or made visa processes more challenging for Bangladeshi travellers seeking visit, medical, or business visas over the past one month to a year, the operators added.

Among popular tourist destinations for Bangladeshis, visa processing currently remains smooth only in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia, and Bhutan, operators say.

According to BOTOF, around 40,000-45,000 Bangladeshis travel abroad by flight each year for leisure purposes.

Visa misuse, overstay issue

Sector insiders report that Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as Central Asian nations like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, have completely halted visa issuance for Bangladeshi tourists, citing allegations of overstays.

"Previously, Vietnam issued e-visas, but they have now stopped approving them. Similarly, Cambodia and Laos have completely halted visa issuance. These countries have all unofficially suspended visas, primarily due to the overstay issue," said BOTOF President Chowdhury Hasanuzzaman.

Before imposing visa restrictions in August 2024, India was the most popular choice for Bangladesh travellers, attracting 40%-45% of outbound tourists due to its cultural closeness, proximity, and ease of visa access

He explained that some businessmen misuse tourist visas to send workers or individuals who may not return, or those who might flee to third countries. As a result, legitimate tourists face difficulties later on.

Taslim Amin Shovon, an outbound tour operator, sent around 500 tourists to Southeast Asian countries over the past two years through his company.

Reflecting on his experience with Vietnam, Shovon, also the director of trade and fair at the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), told TBS, "In Vietnam alone, over 30,000 Bangladeshis have overstayed illegally in the past two years. At least 2,000-2,500 people traveled to Vietnam each month."

He continued, "Some dishonest individuals in the industry exploit the ease of obtaining tourist visas. A visa might cost Tk8,000-Tk10,000, but these people sell them to rural citizens for Tk1 lakh-Tk2 lakh.

"They have sent a large number of workers, which has led these countries to impose such restrictions."

As a solution, he said, "If any country imposes a visa embargo, they should first consult with our foreign ministry to address the issue of overstays. We have not heard of such discussions taking place."

Regarding the visa issues with Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, the director of the South-East Asia Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Md Hasan Abdullah Towhid, said, "I have learned that they are not issuing visas in most cases due to overstays. However, we are maintaining regular contact with the embassies of these countries. We have already raised the concerns of our tourists with the Vietnamese embassy."

"The non-resident ambassador of Laos will present his credentials next week in Dhaka, and we have included the visa issue on the agenda for that meeting," he said.

Migrant workers face difficulties

Aspiring migrant workers are also facing challenges in obtaining visas for destinations like the UAE, which imposed restrictions in July following street protests by hundreds of Bangladeshis in the Gulf nation supporting the mass uprising.

The situation has been further worsened by an oversupply of workers through illegal visa trading in Oman and corruption in the recruitment process in Malaysia, leading to the closure of labour markets for Bangladeshis over the past year.

Regarding the resumption of visas for the UAE and Oman, Md Shafiqur Rahman, DG of the West Asia Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told TBS, "We are aware of these matters." 

However, he declined to comment further on the details.

The UAE hired an average of 5,000 workers until August last year; however, this number dropped to a mere 23 in the last month, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET).

Additionally, Oman hired only 358 workers last year, compared to 127,000 in 2023.

Troubles in obtaining Thai visa

Anwar Hossain, a Dhaka-based businessman, had planned to visit Thailand for a follow-up medical checkup for his child. However, since December, the agency he hired has been facing difficulties in applying for a Thai visa.

"At first, we planned to visit India, as the initial treatment was conducted there in 2023. But after India restricted visas for Bangladeshis, we decided to go to Thailand,  yet, we are still unable to apply," Anwar told TBS.

He also mentioned that some of his acquaintances are facing the same issue.

According to sector insiders, visa complications for Bangladeshis in Thailand began on 2 January, following the introduction of the e-visa system.

They say that since the introduction of the e-visa system, the number of approved visas has dropped from 800 to 400 per day. In the case of e-visa applications, the visa is being submitted, but the visa fee cannot be paid, causing delays in approval. Specifically, payments for group visas cannot be processed at all.

"Previously, visas were issued through VFS. Once the 800 slots were filled, we knew that if it wasn't today, it could be done tomorrow. But now, with only 400 slots available, we can't even get in," said tour operator Taslim Amin Shovon, speaking to TBS.

In this regard, a meeting was recently held with the Thai embassy, attended by ATAB, BOTOF, and TOAB. One tour operator present at the meeting told TBS, "The ambassador informed us that this issue will not be resolved before the end of February. As a result, there will likely be a significant gap in Thailand's tourism before Eid. While those with existing visas can still travel, very few new visas are being issued."

Meanwhile, visit visas for Dubai were previously issued smoothly, and due to the abundance of flight connectivity, many tourists were traveling there. However, since July, visa issuance has also been suspended. Dubai Emirates Tourism informed BOTOF that the visa issuance process may restart in February.

Limited visa issuing for Indonesia, Turkey, European countries

Sector insiders say that limited visa issuance by European countries has also affected the flow of travellers to Turkey.

"Turkey is issuing visas in very limited numbers. Those who were traveling to Turkey were primarily en route to another European country, with Turkey as a stopover. The majority of my company's guests followed this pattern," said BOTOF President Chowdhury Hasanuzzaman.

"Now, due to the significant restrictions on European visas, many passports are being rejected. As a result, the number of people traveling to Turkey has dropped," he said.

He added, "Previously, my company would send around 30 people per month to Turkey. In January, only 12-13 people are traveling – a drop of nearly 50%."

"Business tours, where officials from garment buying houses would meet buyers, have also decreased. However, pleasure tours have almost completely stopped. Our guests mainly traveled to Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, but since July, that number has significantly declined. Everything is open, but unofficially restricted," said the BOTOF President.

Sector insiders say obtaining a visa for Indonesia now takes about one to one and a half months. Additionally, the visa fee is quite high, around Tk14,000. Indonesia is issuing very limited visas, and applicants must undergo an interview and provide a local guarantor's invitation.

Previously, Bangladeshi tourists could obtain an on-arrival visa for Indonesia, with no fee required. However, post-Covid-19, this option has been completely closed for Bangladeshi nationals.

Md Hasan Abdullah Towhid said, "The issue of issuing more visas from Indonesia will be raised at the upcoming foreign office consultations."

Popular destinations for Bangladeshi tourists

Before imposing visa restrictions in August 2024, India was the most popular choice for Bangladesh travellers, attracting 40%-45% of outbound tourists due to its cultural closeness, proximity, and ease of visa access.

Regarding India's visa issue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said in a weekly briefing on 9 January, "The authority to issue visas lies entirely with India. In discussions with them, we learned that their visa centres are open and visa services are available in a limited capacity."

He added, "The Indian High Commission informed us that they are facing a shortage of personnel, which is why fewer visa applications are being accepted compared to before. We hope they will take steps to normalise the situation."

Thailand, known for medical tourism, shopping, and leisure, draws 15%-20% of Bangladeshi travellers.

Malaysia hosts 10%-15% of Bangladeshi tourists, while Singapore receives 5%-10%.

The Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, accounts for 10%-15% of Bangladesh's outbound tourism.

Europe attracts 5%-8%, and other Asian countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and China each draw 5%-8%.

North America and Australia each receive 2%-5% of Bangladeshi tourists.