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Tourism

UK visa rules hurt luxury yacht sales by Chinese buyers

Louisa Peacock

Photo Credit: The Sunseeker 80 Yacht is one model by the luxury yacht manufacturer that Chinese buyers are trying to get into the country to see.  Sunseeker

Skift Take

While this story should be filed under "rich people problems" it still speaks to the challenges the UK has creating a streamlined visa process that helps visitors get in and out of the country with minimal fuss, or at least with consistent expectations.

Chinese visa restrictions are a "straitjacket" on the UK's superyacht industry, which is missing out on tens of millions of pounds a year because potential buyers cannot easily visit Britain to view boats, it is claimed. Luxury yacht manufacturers Sunseeker and Princess claim complex entry rules for Chinese citizens are adversely affecting long-term growth prospects at their companies, with Chinese billionaires put off coming to the UK because of the difficulties involved in getting into Britain. Chinese tourists wishing to visit the UK have to jump through a series of hoops, including getting their fingerprints take

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