John Lewis' retail director to chair China visa campaign

John Lewis’ retail director Andrew Murphy has been named as chairman of the UK China Visa Alliance (UKCVA), the body campaigning for a streamlined tourist visa process to attract more Chinese tourists to the UK. Murphy, who has board

responsibility for operation, performance and profitability of John Lewis’ 39 department stores, as well as the overall responsibility for development and delivery of customer service for the retailer, will bid to ease visa regulations in Britain for Chinese visitors.

In his new role at UKCVA, which was founded last year by New West End Company, London First, Walpole British Luxury, Global Blue and the McArthurGlen Group, Murphy will bring a “strategic outlook to the campaign”, and build on progress made so far by the Alliance.

According to UKCVA’s analysis, only 7 percent, the equivalent to 200,000 people, of Chinese visitors to Europe choose to get the two visas required to visit the UK as well as the 26 countries covered by the Schengen Agreement. The organisation estimates that this caps the potential spend from these travellers at 1.3 percent of the total global Chinese visitor spend.

John Lewis director leads UKCVA’s visa campaign

Murphy said: “The Chinese consumer is by far the largest spender among overseas visitors to the UK, and that spend is a vital area of growth if we are to remain globally competitive as a visitor destination.

“Whilst incremental steps have been taken, the UKCVA believes more must be done by the Government to ensure that the UK attracts its fair share of Chinese visitors, levelling the playing field with other European countries. I look forward to working with the Alliance to ensure the Government makes these vital changes.”

Since forming in July 2012, the UKCVA has been in discussion with the Home Office about enabling both Schengen countries and UK visas to be applied for in China at a ‘single drop off point’, which would incentivise Chinese visitors to include the UK to their European itineraries.