Event's bosses delight at visa cut

Organisers of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod today spoke of their delight at the news that visa costs for performers at the world-renowned festival will be reduced from next year.

Bosses feared the high costs of the visas would prevent many international acts coming to the eisteddfod in the future.

Today, with barely a week to the opening of the 62nd festival, event bosses are celebrating the news that the Home Office is to make changes to visa laws.

The changes will see considerable financial savings for the festival's competitors in the coming years.

The eisteddfod's executive officer, Mervyn Cousins, has been in lengthy discussions with the government department over the last 18 months, pleading the case for competitors who had seen their visa costs jump by almost 30 per cent.

But the Home Office has now proposed a new visa set-up for people coming to the UK for one-off cultural events. The present permit free status visa for competitors costs £99 per individual. This will be reduced in 2009 to visitor level which presently costs £65.

Mr Cousins said: "Bearing in mind that at one point there was mention of a £200 entry visa, I feel that the very positive working relationship we have developed with the UK visa department and the Home Office has gone a long way in bringing about a very happy outcome for everyone involved."

This year's eisteddfod begins on Tuesday and concludes with a gala opera performance on July 13.