Canadians to pay up to $998 for a visa!
 

Canada can do the same with UAE visitors, I expect....times two.
Or, simply withdraw landing rights for all UAE air carriers.

They could do the same......but I'm betting they won't.

Canada already does the same. UAE citizens have to pay to get a visa!

Of course they could, in reciprocity.

I suspect they won't though and that is a good thing. If so, it also underscores the difference in maturity levels and pragmatism between policy makers of the two countries.

While it might seem emotionally satisfying for Canada to slap a $1000 visa fee on any UAE national visitor applicants, the fact is that Canada would be shooting itself in the foot in the same way that the UAE has just done.

Canada is not a closed country and tourism is a major industry. While travellers might seek cheap airfares and hotels and are incredibly irritated by excessive visa fees, they (and especially GCC visitors) typically spend a lot of money in a foreign country, creating much needed income and economic activity that can be felt by ordinary people. The European travel industry uses the phrase "sleep cheap, shop expensive" to describe this phenonemon.

Additionally, Canada remains an attractive place to study and tuition fees far outclipse any gains in revenue from punitively raising visa fees. Additionally, students who learn in a foreign country absorb the host country's culture and some of the country's values. Most people would agree that Canada tends to be, on a global scale, a tolerant and diplomatic society, aspects from which the UAE could gain from.

In any case, I suspect that the UAE will lose more than it gains from its change in visa policy. Some friends, a middle-class family of 4, visited the UAE on a 10-day vacation, having been attracted by the "Dubai Inc. aura." They really enjoyed their time but I suspect that the cost and hassle of the proposed visa policy would have disuaded them from visiting the country. UAE's loss, someone else's gain. I suggested, in any case, that Oman is far more cultural, scenic and interesting (with friendly locals to boot)!

Or why Emirates and Etihad aren't allowed to fly into CYYC or CYVR. Would it really, truthfully take that much business from Air Canada?

Probably, yes Number2. If you do some thread searching some other contributors have argued on how it could actually lead to a net reduction on services at other Canadian cities to other destinations outside of Canada. But that is, in a way, besides the point.

In the absence of an Open Skies agreement (so we are talking about bilateral issues), Canada looks upon increased service based on demand between two countries, namely, Canada and the United Arab Emirates (not upon the UAE wanting to increase flow through its hubs to destinations beyond the UAE).

Furthermore, increase rights are normally a result of enhanced mutual benefits. In this case, the benefits are very one-sided.

So. That is why the UAE cannot get additional rights at this time. Pure and simple. Ironically, I suspect the new more restrictive visa requirements will actually drive down demand for traffic between Canada and the UAE, which as I said, is the UAE shooting itself in the foot if it hopes to increase traffic rights in the future.

I certainly hope that Canada won't cave on this issue. The process for permitting the increase in traffic rights follows a logical one. Imagine if Canada were to reverse course in response to the UAE visa restrictions. It would be a lesson to the World on how to negotiate diplomatically with Canada.

Next thing you will know, countries like Panama, El Salvador, Russia, Korea or China could embark on an uncouth game of hardball in order to try to increase flow through their hubs from Canadian airports.

Looking at the humor of it, it is funny how what should be an otherwise low-grade trade dispute has become a major international dispute.

Now I realize that the Canadian government must look after the interests of the expat community but this is getting embarasing. It will be interesting to see what the Canadian goverment reaction will be.

I can't wait for the rush of tourists waiting to fill Emirates planes after this. The Unwelcome mat is now fully rolled out.

Good luck with the pissing match. It's a long way around Canadian airspace.

Pathetic really.

go canada, dont let them in until they are a fair competitor to AC and when they treat their workforce with respect, but thats never gonna happen so dont let them in.

I'm with PJ.

Canada has done all it needs to do.

Reinstating Visa requirements and hiking visa fees is merely the UAE shooting itself in the foot. Nice. :ugh:

Canada, clearly has "the hammer" if the UAE continues to behave this way over Canada's response, playing the overflight card could cost EK and EY some serious dollars. (of course, they'd still show a profit) The lack of overflight clearances would impact passenger loads and only serve to chase passengers to other carriers. After a handfull of inconvenienced flights the combined lo$$e$ to EK and EY would by far and away exceed any annual visa income to the UAE government derived by penalizing Canadian businessmen, tourists, or employees. :ok:

CANADA still has the big option card it can play.

Come to think of it, if CANADA were to cancel EK and EY services to Canada along with overflight clearances, how many of our expat Canadians would be summarily rounded up and expelled from the UAE? Now there's a thought.
:D :D :D

That would throw a spanner into the 'employee' works at Emirates and Etihad I should think.

Willie Everlearn :ok:

With the decrease in tourists perhaps the 777 will get Toronto back :E:ok:

They already do and have done for many years. UAE asked that their citizens be accorded the same rights as Canadians but Canada refused - hence UAE took Canada off the free visa list.

Well yes and no - if all you want to do is protect Air Canada then you are correct, but many State Governments are very unhappy with this policy of restricting air passenger expansion which they see as stifling economic growth in their region.

So by your predictions, Jet II, the citizens of the UK, the Schengen Area, Japan, Australia and USA will be next in 2011 to be removed from the visa-on-arrival list and have to pay up to $1000 USD for a visit visa to the UAE because UAE citizens require visas to visit those countries?

I too am the national of a small country which is required to hold a visitor visa to visit countries such as Canada, the USA . . . even the UAE but that does not mean we do not provide a tourist card, on arrival, for a $5 fee because we realize that a) these countries are not going to change their policy reciprocal to ours because they have their concerns, and b) we gain so much by having visitors come to our country through their spending that putting high barriers only makes us poorer in the end.

Canada, being a close neighbor of the USA, inherits many of the neighbor's security headaches. Prior to September 2001, citizens of certain GCC countries like Saudi Arabia (I don't know if it was also the case for the UAE) were allowed visa-free travel to Canada. That all changed, a contribution of bin Laden and Al Qaeda to his own fellow citizens.


Well yes and no. More than Air Canada is potentially affected and I don't think that Air Canada has enough clout to affect Government policy in this area. Of course the governments of foreign states are unhappy about this. Somebody will always be unhappy about something.

would be great if the UAE charges every visitor 1000 USD, that would be suicide for their tourism and they can go back riding camels, its much safer and more romantic anyway

Well Panama Jack - figures from Newcastle in NE England show that EK operating there daily has increased business alone with Australia by 3x (or 300% for simple minded idiots)...

It's quite simple - EK has a greater pull than the whole of Canada... I mean, do you see Canada sponsoring the rugby or cricket? No? But half a billion people in India see the cricket 'Fly Emirates' logo on the umpire...

As much as I like Canada - it's a NOTHING next to the EK PR machine:cool: Work it out yourselves girls:ok::ok:

Care to provide the figures (link) ...or are they pulled out of the lower region of the EK PR machine??

"EK has a greater pull than the whole of Canada... I mean, do you see Canada sponsoring the rugby or cricket? No? But half a billion people in India see the cricket 'Fly Emirates' logo on the umpire..."

If Indians knew how to skate they might learn to play ice hockey. If they learned to play hockey there'd be no such thing as cricket. But, the Indians simply want to remain British colonial wannabees, whereas WE Canadians don't. :ok:

Soccer, Rugby and Cricket will never fly in Canada. If the Indians wish to support a foreign airline rather than their own, it's up to them.
Come to think of it, Canadians would rather support their own airline and their own sports. Sports like ice hockey, where there is NO running out of bounds or breaks for tea.

You might also notice the logo on the umpires and team jerseys don't say "Fly Emirates to Canada".
That's not likely to change anytime soon. :E

Willie :) (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

If AC can lobby Canadian Government in NOT allowing more flights, I don't understand why UAE has no right to slap Canadians with reciprocal visa and more......

I am a Canadian and as a consumer I want to have a choice! if AC wants to compete they should compete on product and services....I am sure they will earn more respect!

the white knight speaks . again. about Canada.
 

Rugby? Cricket? -- Canada? ..:rolleyes: heh

Canadians play baseball -- you know -- pee wee leagues and -- the Blue Jays?

Canadians play Football -- you know - with downs and 1st and 4th quarters .. the Grey Cup?

Canadians watch NFL football -- you know. The Super Bowl? It's down to Texas this year ..you know -- out of Bellingham -- http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...lies/smile.gif

Indians? Well, bully for them and the Mo's Emirates referee's shirt!

Liking Canada but knowing absolutely nothing about it's people, culture, history, etc. -- I mean, Monsieur White Knight, is rather boring.


btw - Little girls play soccer in Canada .. in the summer ..