ALI QUESTIONS OUTDATED VISA SYSTEMS, CALLS FOR EASIER TRAVEL BETWEEN CARIBBEAN AND EUROPE

Staff Writer

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA | October 8, 2026 — President Irfaan Ali has raised concerns about cumbersome visa application procedures affecting Caribbean travellers, arguing that outdated systems are creating unnecessary barriers to international travel, tourism, business development and diplomatic cooperation.

Speaking Wednesday at the opening of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), President Ali called for greater use of digital technology to simplify visa processing and improve international connectivity.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Ali highlighted the difficulties Caribbean nationals face when applying for visas to certain European countries, including the requirement to travel to neighboring states such as Trinidad and Tobago or Suriname to complete applications or attend appointments.

The president questioned why applicants must sometimes spend days waiting for appointments abroad when modern technology offers opportunities to streamline identity verification and administrative procedures.

“The modern world can’t be that complicated. You can get the biometrics of anybody…in a couple of seconds,” Ali said.

He argued that such obstacles undermine efforts to strengthen international partnerships, particularly when Caribbean representatives are invited to conferences and other engagements overseas but encounter difficulties obtaining the necessary travel documents.

“You can’t build partnership and friendship like that,” the president stated.

Ali pointed to the Gulf states as an example of how electronic visa systems and frequent air connections can facilitate easier movement between countries while supporting tourism, trade and regional integration.

He noted that similar efforts to improve connectivity are developing across Latin America and suggested that the Caribbean must pursue a more coordinated approach to remain competitive in the global tourism market.

The president maintained that regional tourism development cannot depend solely on expanding hotels and attracting international airlines. He emphasized the importance of integrated transportation networks, simplified travel documentation and policies that make it easier for people to move between destinations.

His remarks also draw attention to the additional financial and logistical burden placed on Caribbean travelers who must purchase airline tickets, arrange accommodation and spend time overseas simply to complete visa application procedures.

While digital processing could reduce some administrative barriers, visa requirements and approval decisions remain matters for the respective destination countries.

Ali’s intervention comes as Caribbean tourism officials and industry stakeholders gather in Georgetown to discuss the future of regional tourism under the SOTIC 2026 theme, “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.”

The president’s central message was that improving travel connectivity requires more than additional flights and tourism infrastructure. It also demands modern immigration and visa-processing systems that support the movement of people and the development of stronger international partnerships.