TOURISM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

* What is Tourism?

Mathieson and Wall (1982) created a good working definition of tourism as "the temporary movement of people to destinations outside their places of work and residence, the activities undertaken during their stay in those destinations, and the facilities created to cater to their needs."

With this definition therefore it shows that there are activities that aid tourism and such should include transportation, lodging,eating and drinking establishments,retail shops, entertainment business and other hospitality services.

Tourism lovers move freely within a particular country but require Tourist visa to travel outside their country of residence unless in the cases of ECOWAS, EU, Schengen and other treaties and special aggreements.

* What is a Visa?

A visa is a permit given to an applicant/traveler to proceed to a foreign country where he is meant to present himself or herself to an immigration officer at the port of entry. It comes in the form of a sticker or stamp on the bearers international passport. Only a certain group of people are excempted from travelling with visa but not for work permits. Such people include, diplomats and high government officials. They use diplomatic and official passports.

What are the different classes and types of visa? 

Mostly the major classes of visa are: Immigrant and Non Immigrant visa or permanent resident and temporary resident permit.

          Permanent residence or Immigrant visa are for people who have legal reasons and approved conditions to apply for a permit to live, work and reside in a foreign country for a long term. It is mostly granted to spouse,children and parents of citizens and legal permanent residents in a foreign country after due immigration visa application processes.

          Non immigrant visa or non permanet resident permit is more or less for short term visits and does not give one the right to work,school or to remain in the foreign country visited for a long period of time. It usually has the duration of 6months, 3months, 1months, few weeks etc depending on the countries. The diffrent types of non immigrant visa include: tourism visa, business, medical visa, entertainment visa etc.

* Are all visa applications accepted and approved? No

*  What if I am refused a visa?

 if you are refused a visa, most embassies and high commissions give the right to appeal the decision which must be in writing to the visa appeals offcer. But when your visa appeal clearly states NO APPEAL or has a phrase like "this decision cannot be appealed as the case is hereby closed" that result marks the end of that particular application but has little or nothing to do with future visa applications.

In this case, the applicant need not clean or alter the embassy stamp on the travel document. Once a significant time has elasped or the situation of the applicant is changed or when he has worked on the reasons why his previous application was not granted, he or she can confidently re-apply even to the same embassy and gets his visa application granted.

* How do I lodge an appeal?

             Appeals must be in writing and are posted/ delivered to the country visa officer at the mentioned address. Faxed or emailed appeals are not always considered.

* Is there is a time limit?

             Yes, you must submit your appeal in most cases within 1 to 2 months of reciept of refusal notice.

* How much does it cost?

             There is no charge for an appeal against visa refusal by the embassy, but travel consultants charge a fee for the service if you use them.

* What happens when I make my appeal?

 On receipt of the appeal the Appeals officer will review the application again, taking account of any further comments you have made in the grounds of appeal and of any supporting documentation. On examination and review the original decision MAY BE reversed. if the Appeal officer does not alter the decision then the refusal stands. An applicant is only entitled to one appeal per visa application refusal. 

DOES VISA PROCUREMENT GUARANTEE ENTRY INTO A COUNTRY? NO

A visa only gives one a full right to commence on a travel outside one's own country, the final decision as to whether to allow or deny one entry into a foreign country of final destination lies with the immigration entry clearance officer at the port of entry.

* WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ENTRY REFUSAL?

   One could be denied entry into a foreign country of his final destination for several reasons, for instance:

-Travelling with fake visa

-Lack of basic travel allowance

-Lack of accommodation proof

-Irregularity in travel dates and visa duration

-Non adherence to visa rules

-Switching of travel purpose and itinery.

SUGGESTIONS ON EASY TOURIST VISA PROCUREMENT

# Host contries immigration rule and policy must be respected and followed regiously

# There must be reliable evidience of the tourist prospective accomodation and means of sustenance while in the foreign land in other not to constitute nuisance or be tempted to seek for public fund.

# Adequate medical care before proposed tour

# Proper travel arrangement 

etc.