How Britain leaving the EU will affect tourism

Many people believe that leaving the EU will make travel more expensive, difficult and less enjoyable.

Britain’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) is raising concerns, particularly about the impact on jobs, financial institutions and tourism. In the short term, for travel enthusiasts, Brexit will make travel more expensive, more difficult and less enjoyable.

Here are some predictions about changes in the travel industry:

Airfares are higher

The success of low-cost airlines is largely down to cutting fares and removing unnecessary barriers to EU services, according to EasyJet CEO Dame Carolyn McCall. Britain’s exit from the EU means air services agreements will have to be revised, concessionary fees will be removed, and routes between EU countries will have to be changed to charge higher prices.

Higher airfares for travel between the UK and the EU are certain. Photo: Business Financial Post.

Vacations become less safe

Peter Long, former CEO of TUI, Europe's leading travel company, said: "EU solidarity is vital to ensuring the best security for travellers, especially after last year's terrorist attack in Tunisia. The UK's withdrawal from the EU will loosen the network, meaning holidays will become less secure."

The pound sterling depreciates.

The pound has lost 10% of its value in the last 30 years, but on the other hand, it has made it cheaper for foreign tourists to visit the UK, a country known for its high prices. The tourism industry could benefit greatly from the increase in visitors.

Lower compensation costs for flight delays

Under EU regulations, airlines must compensate passengers for every flight delay. Many people think that this compensation is too high, unintentionally pushing up the price of regular tickets. On the other hand, this increases the quality of air services and passengers are not annoyed by delays. If the UK leaves the EU, these regulations will likely be abolished.

Calls from the UK to the EU and vice versa are becoming more expensive. Photo: The Guardian.

Higher roaming charges

This means that calls from the EU to the UK, or vice versa, will be more expensive due to the removal of preferential regulations and agreements between network operators within the Union.

Beaches are becoming more polluted

The UK has a history of being heavily affected by air and sea pollution. Unlike the UK, the EU has been a leader in implementing strict standards for the quality of beaches. By following these regulations, the UK has significantly reduced the amount of polluted wastewater discharged around its coast over the past 30 years. However, without pressure from Brussels, will the UK government be able to maintain its determination and pressure on companies to treat wastewater into the sea? This remains uncertain.

Thanks to the EU, UK beaches are cleaner and safer. Photo: Alamy.

According to VNE