Europe’s Biometric Visas Are Suddenly Hurting Its Luxury Goods Industry

New visa requirements have made it harder for Chinese travelers to visit Europe, and Europe’s own luxury brands are paying the price. Chinese tourists are some of the world’s biggest buyers of pricey clothes and handbags. But in order to access Europe’s biggest and most glamorous shops for luxury goods, they first need to cross into Europe’s borderless 26-country Schengen zone. To do that, according to an EU rule that went into effect for Chinese tourists in October 2015, requires obtaining a biometric visa from an EU consulate or application center in their home country. Compared to the former process, where they could apply by mail, it’s enough of a hassle to deter many from visiting Europe altogether. Read more at Quartz.