The UK is pressing ahead with its trial of a £3,000 visitor bond scheme despite luxury goods retailers denouncing the plan as an “insulting deterrent” to wealthy tourists that will hit sales and damage the country’s reputation.
The government said it would press ahead with a pilot in November to impose visa restrictions on six Commonwealth nations - India , Pakistan , Bangladesh , Ghana , Sri Lanka and Nigeria , despite David Cameron , the prime minister, pouring cold water on the scheme in June after news of the policy provoked uproar in New Delhi, the Financial Times reports .
Luxury goods retailers have urged the government to cancel the trial, claiming that visa restrictions will damage business if Commonwealth tourists - particularly Nigerians who are now the sixth biggest spender on luxury goods in the UK - are put off visiting Britain .
“It’s embarrassing that our country would consider these measures against visitors who spend so much in our stores,” said Michael Ward , managing director of Harrods.
“There seems to be a deeply frustrating attitude in Westminster that they should do whatever they can to actively prevent people coming to the UK.” The domestic backlash against tourist bonds comes on the heels of a global outcry when it emerged that the government was planning to demand a £3,000 migrant bond from “high risk” overseas visitors.
Source: Business Day Nigeria
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