Does Brexit Make Traveling to England Harder?
The British had been working toward it for a long time, and now it has finally happened. The EU exit became a done deal after the House of Commons approved Boris Johnson's deal. There is still a transition period during which important details are being negotiated. But what does Brexit mean for vacationers who want to travel to the United Kingdom?
The withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU had already been making waves for some time. Now the United Kingdom has set the country on course. This brings with it a number of changes that still need to be worked out between the European Union and Great Britain. A large share of these changes will affect tourism. After all, up to 70 percent of Europeans enjoy traveling to the United Kingdom. Particularly popular is <link europa europas-traummetropolen>the vibrant London, which with Big Ben, the London Eye, and Westminster Palace has much to offer. Many took advantage of affordable deals that made city trips to the metropolis on the Thames possible.
But many are now uncertain about how travel to Great Britain will continue. The tourism board is trying to calm fears, as it knows the significance of the EU market. After all, according to VisitBritain's European Director Robin Johnson, around 27 million travelers come from the European Union to the island every year. That won't change, Johnson emphasizes repeatedly — "no matter what happens."
Nevertheless, the devil may be in the details. Some even fear that something akin to a Schengen visa could be introduced. This can be applied for at https://www.etiasvisa.com/de/ and allows people from certain countries to enter the EU. In the context of Brexit, speculation arose that EU citizens might in the future also need some form of visa to vacation in the United Kingdom.
Currently, however, nothing of the sort is under discussion. Until 2021, there will be no changes to existing entry formalities, barring any serious reasons. Anyone who holds an ID card or passport as an EU citizen can stay in Great Britain for up to three months. Those with an e-passport can also conveniently use the e-gate, just as before. However, ID cards are expected to no longer be accepted from 2021 onward.
Likewise, based on the current situation, it can be assumed that there will be no restrictions in rail or ferry traffic. The ferry port of Dover alone is one of the largest in all of Europe. Goods worth around 16 billion pounds are handled there every year. In addition, approximately 14 million travelers arrive in Great Britain each year via the Calais/Dunkirk–Dover connection. The British government is certainly not interested in any disruption in this area.
Flights will also not be affected by Brexit. Landing rights are not changed by the withdrawal agreement. Should special certificates be needed for landing in the EU, airlines would have around nine months to obtain them. The situation regarding EU ownership has also been clarified in the meantime. Some airlines would no longer be majority-owned by the EU economic area. Affected by this were Ryanair, TUIfly, and EasyJet, among others. However, all were able to continue operating as subsidiaries within the EU.
For now, everything remains "as it was." Nevertheless, some things may change in 2021. For EU citizens, however, these changes are likely to be minimal.
