Welcome to Britain

BRITAIN is packed full of amazing experiences all year round and 2019 is going to be no exception. From sporting events to literary celebrations, from music festivals to new gallery openings, visitors to #Britain during 2019 are in for a cultural extravaganza.

There is reassurance from both the UK Government and the European Commission that flights will continue to operate between the UK and the EU after the 29 March 2019 regardless of the wider #Brexit negotiations.

EU nationals will be able to continue to travel on ID cards until at least 2021. The expectations is that visitors who are citizens of current EU Member States and who have a valid passport will still to be able to use e-gates to make entry quick and easy. Visitors who are citizens of current EU member states will continue to be able to travel without a visa. Please check the UK government website for the latest advice.


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Leaving the EU a positive impact for the Isle of Wight

LEAVING the EU is having a positive impact on holiday island the Isle of Wight, according to Wight Coast Holidays who are the island's leading provider of self catering holidays.

Estimates vary but the company have seen a rise in holidays by over 20% for #IsleofWight holiday rentals in 2019 compared to 2018.

According to a spokesman from their office in Bembridge they have received multiple bookings from holidaymakers who normally visit Spain, France and Portugal worried about possible delays at airports after the UK leaves the EU - and the prospect of queueing for their flights with children in tow for hours on end has led to them considering the Isle of Wight in 2019, with some visiting for the first time in a few years.

For many in the UK the Isle of Wight ferry crossing separates them from a staycation on the mainland, and the crossing takes less than an hour with Red Funnel from Southampton and Wightlink from Portsmouth Harbour and Lymington.

While it's likely that other UK destinations will experience a holiday industry boost in Devon and Cornwall for example, the fact that to get to the Isle of Wight involves a ferry crossing for those used to going abroad could mean the island will benefit more from the uncertainty over Brexit.

Top attractions on the island include Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House but for family holidays the beaches of Bembridge, Seaview, Sandown and Shanklin could mean tourists will return again in future years with a positive impact on the tourist industry, which is a major player in the island's economy.


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Taking to the Skies

RESEARCH by YouGov for one of the UK’s busiest regional airports shows a clear generational divide in attitudes to travel, with millennials much more likely to travel outside the UK than they were two years ago.

More than a third (37%) of 18-24 year-olds and 28% of 25-34 year-olds surveyed for Bristol Airport say they are more likely to fly now than they were two years ago. This is compared to just 17% of those 55 and over.


While changes in personal finances appear to be the biggest factor for those reducing their travel (34%), Brexit is cited as another reason for reducing their travel by 14% of 18-24 year-olds when compared to just 5% of 55 and overs.

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Travel Concerns in Post-Brexit Europe

AN exclusive poll by global flight and #travel deals website, Cheapflights.co.uk, ahead of tomorrow’s (29 March) triggering of Article 50, reveals that nearly 80 per cent of Brits are concerned about holidaying in a post-#Brexit #Europe. 

Fears over rocketing prices, increased bureaucracy and a less than friendly reception top the list of worries, with many UK travellers planning to take their future holidays in the US, Caribbean, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand or on home soil instead.

Cheapflights’ poll, conducted among 2,000 Brits, shows that nearly half (49 per cent) cited the potential impact on the strength of the Pound and less value in their holiday wallets as their primary worry, followed by concerns around losing guaranteed local health care via the European Health Insurance Card (36 per cent); rumours of visas to visit EU destinations (35 per cent); and higher airfares (33 per cent). Nearly a third (31 per cent) highlighted a concern that EU residents might be less welcoming to British tourists, and others (20 per cent) noted fears around the return of the punitive mobile-phone charges phased out in recent years.

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On the runway . . .

GLOBAL flight comparison website, Cheapflights.co.uk, comments in advance of next week’s autumn statement as MPs lobby government to halve APD. The measure is being encouraged to help families by reducing the cost of flying and boost trade post Brexit. The move follows legislation earlier this year, which saw under 16s being exempted from APD.

Andrew Shelton, Managing Director of Cheapflights, said: "There is no doubt that the decision to leave the EU has impacted flight search Pre-Brexit vote. Three Eurozone countries – Spain, France and Greece – were in Cheapflights’ top-five most-searched-for destinations, ranking two, three and four respectively. Following the Brexit decision, Spain remains second on the list, but demand for the destination has dropped by 22%. France has dropped from third place to number five on the list, with searches down 28%, and Greece has fallen from number four to number seven, with demand dropping by 34%.

“If this reduction is granted, we’d expect to see a significant increase in long-haul flight searches on our website over the next month as families seek to make the most of the potential cost savings.”

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Brexit bonus for UK tourism

MOST of the ‘experts’ working in Britain’s tourism sector kept themselves busy during the country’s June referendum on its European Union membership issuing dire warnings of catastrophe and collapse if Brits voted the ‘wrong’ way – the wrong being to vote in favour of leaving the EU. Post-June statistics compiled by tourism bodies, however, suggest that in the short-term at least, the experts got it, er, wrong.

According to the Tourism Alliance – with members including the British Hospitality Association, the Association of British Travel Agents, and regional tourist boards – billions of pounds have flowed into the industry since the June 23 Leave vote.

There has been a substantial increase in visitors from abroad and in Brits opting for a staycation.

The extra takings in 2016 for staycations alone are estimated to be £2.4 billion. While £1 billion of that was spent before June 23, the total additional staycation income for 2016 is expected to be £1.4 billion. An extra £725 million has been spent so far across Britain’s popular tourist destinations. And hundreds of millions more are set to be spent thanks to the growth in foreign visitors.

The falling pound since the Brexit vote has made holidays more expensive for Britons going abroad and cheaper for foreign tourists coming here – giving Britain’s tourism industry a double boost.

Other factors adding to the boom are recent good weather, low interest rates and fears of terrorism across the Channel. .

Tourism Alliance director Kurt Janson said the additional £2.4 billion has the potential to create some 40,000 new jobs in the sector.

Businesses in Blackpool said the seaside town was having one of its best seasons ever, and Visit Cornwall said tourism across the county was up by more than four percent.

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UK tourism boom following Brexit vote

THE TOURISM ALLIANCE has released the results of a survey which show an increase in in-bound and domestic tourism bookings after Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. 

The survey of more than 500 tourism businesses throughout the UK found that 18% of in-bound tourism businesses and 21% of domestic tourism businesses have experienced an increase in forward bookings since the referendum on June 23.

The results also revealed that almost 20% of domestic tourism businesses are looking to increase their current investment levels in the expectation of increasing domestic tourism numbers.

Bernard Donoghue, the Tourism Alliance chairman and director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, welcomed the findings. ‘These result show the strength and responsiveness of the UK tourism industry and our ability to provide employment and growth for local economies throughout the UK,’ he said.

But he cautioned that ‘while the industry was expecting a short-term boom in both domestic and in-bound tourism over the next two years, the long-term prospects of the tourism industry are dependent on the UK securing a deal with the EU that will protect the ability of UK and EU residents to easily travel.’

He added: ‘We will also want to ensure that our industry, which is heavily dependent on workers from the EU, has the opportunity to recruit and attract the workers we need’.

To help achieve this, the Tourism Alliance will be presenting a draft Tourism Exit Strategy to culture secretary Karen Bradley. The document will identify the main tourism-related issues that will affect the UK tourism industry. It will also present the industry’s view on what actions the government should take in order to maximize the future potential and growth of the sector.


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US interest in travel to the UK spikes post-Brexit; 25% increase in flight bookings

#TRAVEL DATA specialist ADARA has reported a 25% increase in flight bookings to the UK in the wake of Brexit, with American customers taking advantage of sterling’s fall.

There have also been sharp rise in London hotel bookings by American travellers, and a 15% increase in US flight searches to the UK.

The research from ADARA analyses and compares post- and pre-Brexit travel trends, and is based on 450 million monthly unique travellers from 2016 prior to June 23, compared to searches since the June EU referendum.

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UKinbound urges government on Brexit negotiations

UK TRADE BODY UKinbound has welcomed the new prime minister, Theresa May, in a letter which included four key ‘asks’ for her to consider in the country’s exit negotiations with the European Union.

They are:

1. A strong narrative promoting the UK as a welcoming destination. At a time of great uncertainty for the UK economy, UKinbound has emphasized the importance of demonstrating that Britain remains an outward-facing nation open for business and which will continue to welcome visitors from around the world. 
2. Continued, tariff-free access to the Single Market to ensure the free movement of goods, finance, and people around the EU. 
3. Continued access to the EU’s Open Skies Agreement. 
4. An assurance regarding residency for its members’ employees. UKinbound’s latest Business Barometer survey revealed that more than 30% of its members’ workforce are EU migrants. 

UKinbound CEO Deirdre Wells OBE said: ‘Although the negotiating blueprint is far from clear for the pending Brexit, we hope that these four key ‘asks’ to the government will support and ensure the maximum growth for our industry.

‘These are issues our members feel are important in maintaining a relationship with the EU. We are a resilient industry and I am confident that our vibrant industry can overcome these challenges we face.’

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Britain’s post-Bexit holiday boom

BUSINESS confidence among accommodation providers is at a record high for the summer holidays in a VisitEngland survey. The findings also show that out of 500 accommodation providers, more than half are expecting an increase in visitors following the EU referendum outcome with a particular boost expected for the domestic market.

English businesses are anticipating a strong summer holiday period with 65% of accommodation providers feeling ‘very confident about the summer holidays and 47% reporting forward bookings as ‘very good’ – both record highs for the survey.

Some 40% of accommodation providers and attractions reported increased visitor numbers in the year to date, with a further 30% maintaining performance.

Tourism minister Tracey Crouch said: ‘The number of people enjoying holidays in England is at a record high. With our world-leading museums and galleries, beautiful countryside and stunning coastline, it should come as no surprise that more people are planning staycations this summer. Tourism contributes an estimated £60 billion to our economy every year, so a strong summer season is not only great news for the sector but the whole country.’

VisitEngland Director Patricia Yates commented: ‘It’s a great summer to holiday in England and a fantastic opportunity for the tourism industry to showcase the range of quality tourism products on offer across the country and demonstrate just why our regions should top people’s list as must-go destinations.

Ms Yates said that with the weakened pound, a holiday at home also gave people the reassurance and certainty of budgeting for a domestic trip.

It has been a record-breaking first four months of the year for domestic holiday trips in England. From January to April, Brits took 11 million holiday trips, 8% more compared to the same period last year, and spent £2.8 billon, 22% up on last year.

These figures come on the back of a strong 2015 with domestic holiday trips and spending both up 7% on the previous year to 43.7 million holiday trips and £10.7 billion respectively.

Also in 2015, domestic seaside holiday trips were up 7%, city holidays up 6% and countryside holidays up 12%.

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Brexit will not have ‘significant impact’, says Eurotunnel

CHANNEL TUNNEL operator Eurotunnel has issued a note of confidence in the wake of Britain voting to leave the European Union.

The company revealed that first-half revenues rose by 2% to €582 million (£) ‘in spite of the uncertain geo-political context’.
 
Eurotunnel said: ‘As the mechanisms for and the means by which the UK will leave the European Union have yet to be determined, it is difficult to predict the effect on the macro-economic and political environment and therefore on cross-Channel transport and the group’s activities. Nonetheless, the group does not expect any significant impact on its activities in the short term and currently activity remains buoyant.’
 
The company reported the best first-half for its Le Shuttle car-carrying service since 2001 with an estimated two-point increase in its market share against a 4% decline in the overall cross-channel car market.
 
Eurostar traffic was down 3% year-on-year following the terrorist attacks in Brussels in March and strikes in Belgium and France in March and June.
 
Eurotunnel chairman and chief executive Jacques Gounon said: ‘Month after month, Eurotunnel has broken traffic records, particularly for the truck shuttles. The tunnel has never been as highly utilized as it is today. Despite the financial market uncertainty generated by the UK voting to leave the European Union, the group remains confident in the performance of its economic model and in its outlook.’

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Brexit won’t hit Brits’ holiday plans – Travelzoo survey

THE UK voted to leave the European Union, but results of a survey commissioned by Travelzoo suggests the impact on Britons travelling this summer will be minimal. Only 3% of Britons now plan to cancel due to concerns about the current value of the pound, and 37% will still head across the Channel. 

Travelzoo's June representative survey was carried out in the days just after the vote, and the results show that Spain and France are the most popular summer holiday destinations with UK travellers. The US is also proving popular, and is the highest-ranked destination outside of Europe. This news comes in spite of the sterling’s instability against the US dollar.

The increasing popularity of long-haul travel in general seems unaffected by the Brexit vote – Australia and Canada also made the top-10 list, joining destinations closer to home, such as Portugal, Greece, Italy, and Cyprus.

Travelzoo is also reporting increasing demand for all-inclusive holidays, with over a quarter (26%) saying they would be more likely to opt for one this year.

Joel Brandon-Bravo, travel commentator and UK managing director of Travelzoo said: ‘The stoic British spirit has prevailed and it's incredibly positive to see people still pushing ahead with their holiday plans. However, for this to continue we urge the UK government to act quickly to resolve uncertainties around visa restrictions and other possible changes impacting travel.

‘If they react slowly, and tourism is pushed down the list of priorities, British holidaymakers could be facing more expensive overseas holidays, and consequently we could see a dip in travel. First and foremost, we need reassurance from those negotiating our exit from the EU that tourism will be a high priority. We have to understand how an independent UK can operate in the European Common Aviation Area, otherwise we'll be living in a world of reduced competition, reduced routes, and higher travel prices. Action is needed now.’

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25 million Brits opting to holiday in UK

A SURVEY by VoucherCodes.co.uk reveals that 25 million Brits are now opting to holiday in the UK rather than taking a trip abroad – 4.5 million more than staycationed last year. The average staycationer is expected to spend £686 on their home-based break, up from £442 last year. 

For the fifth year running, Cornwall is the most popular spot for those planning a break in their home country, with 12 percent of holiday-goers planning a trip there this year. London held onto second place on this year’s list of top #staycation destinations, with nine percent planning a trip to the city this year. Meanwhile, eight percent are planning to go the Lake District.

Cost remains a driver of the staycations movement with 18 percent of those surveyed saying they can’t afford to afford to travel abroad this year. A further sixth (16 percent) claim they’ve opted to staycation because they believe it’s better value than going abroad. But for a third, an interest in exploring all that the UK has to offer is their main reason for not travelling overseas.

The number of Brits holidaying in the UK has seen a further boost following the country’s vote on European Union membership. Additional research carried out after the referendum reveals an extra five percent of Brits – 2.5 million people – will choose to take a break in the British Isles this year, while a further five percent stated they are holding off booking a holiday at all until things calm down.

Brexit has also had an impact on how the nation is feeling about its holiday finances, with 15 percent of those taking a holiday this year planning to spend less on their summer get-away following the result.

A quarter of respondents are planning an escape to the countryside, and both beach and city breaks across the UK came in joint second place for the most popular staycation.

Claire Davenport, managing director at VoucherCodes.co.uk says: ‘Thanks to the news that so many Brits are planning to holiday in Britain during 2016, we should see a welcome boon up and down the country for hoteliers, B&Bs and travel retailers throughout the summer. With this in mind, those in the travel industry should ensure they’re targeting their ongoing marketing campaigns to tap into this consumer trend.’

Top 10 staycation choices:

Cornwall
London
Lake District
Scottish Highlands
Stay at home
Norfolk
Edinburgh
Isle of Wight
Manchester
Bath

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UK travel plans unchanged by Brexit vote – Travelzoo

THE UK – or at least England and Wales – voted to leave the European Union, but research suggests the impact on Britons travelling this summer will be minimal, as only 3% of them now plan to cancel due to concerns about the current value of the pound.

Global travel deals publisher Travelzoo conducted its June Travel Trends survey in the days just after the vote, and the results indicate that 37% of Britons are heading to the continent this year, with Spain and France emerging as the most popular destinations. The US is also proving popular, and is the highest ranked destination outside Europe. This news comes in spite of the pound’s instability against the dollar.

The increasing popularity of long-haul travel in general seems unaffected by the Brexit vote – Australia and Canada also made the top-10 list, joining destinations closer to home, such as Portugal, Greece, Italy and Cyprus.

Travelzoo is also reporting increasing demand for all-inclusive holidays, with more than a quarter (26%) saying they would be more likely to opt for one this year.

Joel Brandon-Bravo, UK managing director of Travelzoo said: ‘The stoic British spirit has prevailed and it’s incredibly positive to see people still pushing ahead with their holiday plans. However, for this to continue, we urge the UK government to act quickly to resolve uncertainties around visa restrictions and other possible changes impacting travel.

‘If they react slowly, and tourism is pushed down the list of priorities, British holidaymakers could be facing more expensive overseas holidays, and consequently we could see a dip in travel.’

Despite the vote to leave the EU last month, fewer than one in 10 (9%) are worried they’ll be treated negatively while on holiday, and over four-fifths (81%) said that the EU referendum has had no impact on their willingness to travel this summer.

When asked about how they feel about safety now we have voted to leave the EU, 21% said they believed being outside will make it harder to combat terrorism both abroad and at home in the UK.

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We still love you, Tenerife tells Brits after Brexit vote

THE #TENERIFE TOURISM CORPORATION is running what it calls a #bigwarmhug campaign to tell the British that the island is on their side regardless of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.

Reaching out to both holidaymakers and the travel trade, the campaign will be primarily promoted via social media channels and will see the people of Tenerife offering a ‘big warm hug’ to British tourists already on the island. The Tenerife people, including taxi drivers and hoteliers will upload images of themselves hugging British tourists holidaying on the island to demonstrate their love for their most important source market.

Vicente Dorta, director general of the Tenerife Tourism Corporation, comments: ‘We are delighted to be running this campaign. The UK accounts for 34% of tourist arrivals to our island and we are very grateful to the British public. We wanted to run this campaign to tell the British people that we are thinking of them during this uncertain time and that no matter what happens, they are never out of our hearts.’

The tourism minister in the island’s government, Alberto Bernabe, adds: ‘The key to this campaign is to engage with as many people as possible – both on Tenerife and in the UK. With political uncertainty in the UK at the moment, we hope this campaign will show the British people that we are with them no matter what.’

Tenerife welcomed more than 1.7 million British visitors in 2015.

www.webtenerife.co.uk

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Keep calm, and carry on travelling

What are the long-term implications of Britain’s Brexit vote for tourism and travel? Go Holiday editor David Kernek peers through the euro-mist

BRITAIN’S ‘No’ vote to European Union (EU) membership was arguably as seismic for this country (which for the time being comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) as the 16th century Protestant reformation in Europe, the establishment of the English republic in 1649, and – a century later – the loss of the American colonies. So it’s not surprising that the campaign run by a political class for which the Brussels Empire has been a gravy train for more than four decades – and for the hard-core Europhiles an article of faith – was a toxic cocktail of dodgy economic forecasts, threats, and groundless assumptions: the Chancellor of the Exchequer said he’d table punishment Budget if the country dared to vote the ‘wrong’ way, while his fellow Remainers told youngsters – people who have never known life outside the EU – that they’d not easily be able to spend their gap years in Paris, Florence, and Berlin … Belgium and Luxembourg seeming to have little appeal to our cosmopolitan teenagers.

I welcomed the referendum and applauded the result, yet I recognize that what happens next will be painful; the slumping £, however, means a short-term gain for Britain’s tourism sector … enquiries and holiday bookings from the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and EU states have increased sharply since June 24. We are, nevertheless, looking at the possible break-up of the union of England and Scotland (albeit with the Queen as head of an independent Scottish state) and two, possibly three, years in which skilled and determined negotiators will have to get the best possible exit terms while British legislators trudge through the law books to which of the thousands of EU directives and regulations can be binned and which kept and perhaps modified. Much of this work will have implications for travel and tourism, for Britain and the 27-member EU.

It’s far, far too soon to predict the likely outcome for holidaymakers and business travellers, but there are some assumptions that can be made fairly safely, putting aside the menacing growls from Brussels, Paris, and Berlin from Eurocrats who are explicably angered by the impending loss of their empire’s second-largest contributor:

Airlines: EU-US Open Skies agreement liberalizing international aviation is a development of the Netherlands-US deal signed in 1992, when it was at first opposed by the EU Commission. Preventing Britain signing up to it would not be in the trade interests of our continental neighbours, since their tourism industries – essential economic engines in southern Europe – would suffer. Freddie Laker pioneered the cheap flights boom in 1966, seven years before Britain joined the then European Economic Community (EEC), so it’s likely to survive Brexit.

Air Passengers Rights: Giving compensation rights to passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled, these derive from an EU regulation applicable currently in Britain. After exit from the EU, parliament can carry it over into UK law – unchanged or amended – or ditch it.

Visas: These weren’t necessary for travel by British citizens to the countries of what was then the EEC – and vice versa – before 1973. It’s reasonable to assume they won’t be post-Brexit. It’s similarly realistic to forecast that the open-borders Common Travel Area agreement – which dates back to 1922/3 – between Britain, the Irish Republic, and Northern Ireland will endure.

Passports: UK passports will in time be re-designed, with references to the European Union deleted. Whether or not we’ll see a comeback for the old blue ones remains to be seen.

Aliens: It’s been suggested – by Remain campaigners – that EU citizens resident in the UK and Brits in EU states could be told go back, as it were, where they came from, thus making expats pawns in Britain’s exit negotiations. Lawyers differ (as they often do) as whether the 1969 Treaty of Vienna protects the so-called acquired or vested rights of residence, but even the europhile think tank British Influence thinks that it does: ‘International law should be sufficient to protect acquired rights. For example, under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, while parties to a treaty can be released from future obligations by withdrawing from the agreement, rights, and obligations acquired under the same treaty are not affected.’

Mobile phone roaming charges: Under EU law, holidaymakers and business travellers will be able to call, text and surf at UK rates in all EU states from mid-2017. It will be up to the UK parliament to either continue the ban on roaming charges … or not.

Duty frees: Duty-free shopping was abolished by the EU, but it could be restored after Brexit.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): This entitles UK travellers to the same, free healthcare available in other EU countries. Keeping it will be an agenda item for the Brexit negotiations, and would depend on enabling EU citizens equivalent access to Britain’s national health service.

But little if anything will change for at least two years, so keep calm and carry on travelling.

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ABTA looks to allay holidaymakers’ fears over Brexit

THIS is a list of responses issued by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to frequently asked questions from UK holidaymakers concerning the impact of Brexit…

How will Brexit affect my holiday? Until the UK officially leaves the European Union, not sooner than two years’ time, there will no changes to holiday arrangements. Travellers are as free to move between the UK and the EU as they were before the vote. European Health Insurance cards remain valid and regulations such as Air Passenger Rights remain in place.

I’m going to Europe this summer, is my passport still valid? Yes.

Which queue will I go into at the airport – EU passports or all others? The same queue as you did before the vote.

Do I need a visa to go to Spain? No.

Can I still get compensation if my flight is delayed or cancelled? Yes. There will be no immediate changes to claiming compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled. The UK Government will need to implement a new law on compensation for flight delays and compensation after we leave the EU.

What about using my mobile phone abroad? Will roaming charges increase? There will be no immediate changes to using your phone abroad, and there won’t be an immediate impact on charges. The UK Government will need to implement a new law on roaming charges after we leave the EU, otherwise the service providers will be free to set roaming charges.

Can I still take money out from cashpoints abroad? Yes, you can continue to take out cash, as normal.

Will it be more expensive to go on holiday abroad? Not necessarily. If you are travelling abroad and you have already paid for all of your travel arrangements, as part of a package holiday for example, then you will be protected to a large degree from a drop in the value of the pound. However, your spending power while abroad will be impacted in the event of a weaker pound, making it more expensive to buy things such as meals and drinks.

Will the cost of flights increase? A weaker pound might impact the cost of flights in the short term, in the longer term the UK government will seek to negotiate full access to the EU’s common aviation market.

My travel company has asked me to pay more for my holiday due to the currency fluctuations. Is that ok? Check the terms and conditions of the organizer that you’ve booked with. If you’ve booked a package holiday this is covered by certain rules: the maximum surcharge by law is up to 10% of the original cost of the holiday. If you haven’t booked a package, you should check the terms and conditions of your travel arrangement.

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Industry stakeholders have their say on Brexit

‘Holidaymakers shouldn’t assume that Brexit means all that will be lost. The UK travel market is vital to the economy of many European countries and regions’

Joel Brandon-Bravo, UK managing director of Travelzoo:

“Following confirmation of a win for the Leave vote, the next 24 months of negotiations will be crucial for #British #travel – particularly if the UK Government wants to maintain in-bound tourism from the European Union and avoid a price hike for Britons wanting to travel abroad for holidays.

Obviously top priority is dealing with the impact the referendum result will have on the value of the pound, but there are other factors that could make the result a big blow for the travel industry. As such, we’re now urging the government to act quickly to re-negotiate how an independent UK operates in The European Common Aviation Area. UK airlines seem unanimous in the opinion that a #Brexit will lead to reduced competition, reduced routes, and higher travel prices.

Other factors now up for negotiation include the loss of the EHIC card – which gives EU members the right to health treatment in any EU country – a potential increase in phone roaming charges following a recent EU initiative cap on charges, and changes to visa regulations for Britons travelling to the EU.

With so many variables in play, it’s difficult to predict the exact impact the Leave vote will have on the tourism industry, but research suggests it will be a negative one. In order to ensure UK travellers and the UK tourism industry do not suffer as we enter the busiest months for travel, the British government has got to enter negotiations with Brussels immediately over the EU policy which impacts travel.”

Andrew Shelton, managing director of global flight search and travel deals website, Cheapflights.co.uk:

“The referendum result will throw the spotlight onto many benefits British travellers have taken for granted for years, including the agreements which created the environment for the budget airlines to thrive and kept airfares low across the board and encouraged the free movement of people, a currency deal that has made the Eurozone so cheap to visit for years, the end of mobile data roaming charges, and free healthcare within the EU.

Nobody could predict the outcome of the referendum, and we now face an uncertain future of speculation and re-negotiation. Those who have thought ahead and conducted thorough scenario planning for this eventuality are those who are best placed to navigate this new pathway – although we fear few will have done so given today’s shocked reactions.

Holidaymakers shouldn’t assume that Brexit means all that will be lost. The UK travel market is vital to the economy of many European countries and regions. It will be in their interests to seek ways to maintain the status quo. The government must now work hard to secure deals with the EU that support our vibrant industry and we believe maximum effort will be going in from all sides in the coming months and years to ensure the UK cash cow isn’t put out to pasture.

Some holidaymakers will be deterred from booking by the falling pound, but the British traveller has proven time and time again that nothing will stand in the way of them having their hard-earned holiday.”

Steve Witt, managing director of Not Just Travel and The Travel Franchise:

“Despite any exit from Europe taking two years or more to really happen, the biggest effect we will see in the short term is currency fluctuation and market uncertainty.

This means that the prices of travel and holidays could be affected in the future as we don’t know what the effect of currency changes will have on the price of holidays, hotels, fuel etc. Prices for the coming 6-12 months have probably already been fixed and guaranteed with tour operators, holiday companies, and hoteliers, therefore now is a good time to book a holiday.

We might see some prices rise in the future as things settle down, but we also might not because of the important aspect our tourism has on the world economy. The amount of money Brits spend abroad is considerable, so whether we are part of Europe or not, countries such as Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Spain and many other top holiday destinations need our business.”

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Brexit will have 'no material impact' – easyJet

HAVING joined the chorus of doom warning of, er, doom during the EU referendum, easyJet has expressed confidence that the UK’s Brexit vote will not have a ‘material impact’ on its low-cost strategy.

The airline says it had been preparing for this eventuality in the lead up to the referendum vote and has been working on a number of options that will allow it to continue flying in all of its markets.

easyJet’s initial focus will be to accelerate discussions with UK and EU governments and regulators to ensure that the UK remains part of the single EU aviation market. It would ensure that consumers continue to benefit from low-fares and would mean easyJet and other airlines can continue to operate as they do now.

However, easyJet admitted that it will also continue to develop ‘alternative options’ that will fully maintain its existing network and operations.

A statement said: ‘easyJet is confident that its unique network, digital leadership, cost advantage, and financial strength will enable it to continue to execute on its strategy and to deliver long term sustainable earnings growth and returns to shareholders.’

Says chief executive Carolyn McCall: ‘We remain confident in the strength of easyJet’s business model and our ability to continue to deliver our successful strategy and our leading returns. We have today written to the UK government and the European Commission to ask them to prioritize the UK remaining part of the single EU aviation market, given its importance to trade and consumers.’

Meanwhile, BMI Regional has warned that it might quit its UK base because of the uncertainty and complexity thrown up by the referendum vote to leave the European Union.

Peter Simpson, chief executive of the regional carrier, said: ‘The vote has created, first and foremost, a lot of uncertainty about the future of the UK, the EU, and Europe as a whole. For a business such as BMI Regional, being heavily influenced by the freedom of trade and traffic, this uncertainty will undoubtedly add a layer of complexity to our business. BMI Regional will keenly monitor developments over the coming weeks and months to assess the challenges and opportunities they will create for the business. It is, however, safe to say, that our continued business domicile as a UK entity is less than clear at this point in time.’

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‘Period of uncertainty ahead’: UK travel industry reacts to Brexit vote

THE UK travel trade’s two main industry bodies – the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and UKinbound – have warned of turbulent times ahead following the country’s decision to #leave the European Union.

In the immediate aftermath of the #referendum vote, UKinbound CEO Deirdre Wells warned of ‘far-reaching consequences’ for its 370 business members.

‘UKinbound feels the decision to leave the #EU is disappointing,’ she said. ‘However, we have proved time and again that we are a resilient industry and the government must now work hard to secure a deal which supports our vibrant industry, which relies on the European Union for two-thirds of its business. The priority must now be to ensure that our members have the best possible environment in which to grow their business and to support them in welcoming visitors from all corners of the globe.’

ABTA said while the UK trade was entering a ‘period of uncertainty’, in regulatory terms there will not be any immediate changes.

‘Once the UK formally notifies the EU of its intention to leave, the remaining member states will have up to two years to offer the UK a deal for a future trading relationship. This period can also be extended if all parties agree. Until this process is resolved, everything will remain as it is now.’

ABTA reiterated that its role was to help keep the industry informed, to help the public to remain confident in travelling, and to help the government to understand and prioritize those matters that are important to ‘our members and our industry’.

‘ABTA will be working proactively with the government to raise awareness of the priorities for travel businesses, and UK travellers, as they negotiate a future trading relationship. We started this process some months ago, with a programme of engagement with ‘leave’ campaigners in Westminster, and we have prepared a detailed list of policy and regulatory priorities that we will be discussing with leading policymakers in the coming weeks. It will also be important to ensure that the industry’s domestic agenda is not neglected, and ABTA will continue to press for action on airport capacity, ATOL reform, which remains relevant whatever the future of the EU’s Package Travel Directive, and Air Passenger Duty.’

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