{"id":12402,"date":"2020-01-26T08:21:07","date_gmt":"2020-01-26T12:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=12402"},"modified":"2020-01-26T11:23:38","modified_gmt":"2020-01-26T15:23:38","slug":"no-travel-restrictions-after-brexit-says-tourist-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=12402","title":{"rendered":"No Travel Restrictions After Brexit Says Tourist Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Travel firms are insisting that \u201ceverything will remain the same\u201d for British holidaymakers after Brexit.<\/p>\n

Warnings were issued last year about potential restrictions for foreign travel in the event of the UK withdrawing from the EU without an agreement.<\/p>\n

These included passports needing to be valid for six months after the end of trips and passengers not being allowed to use border queues designated for EU passport holders.<\/p>\n

But Mark Tanzer, chief executive of travel trade organisation Abta, told the PA news agency that the transition period means there will be no changes when Brexit happens at 11pm on Friday.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cBecause the UK is set to have a deal with the EU when it comes to travel, everything will remain the same after January 31 so people can continue to travel as normal.<\/p>\n

\u201cTravelers will still be able to use their UK passport at EU gates at border check points for now, at least until the end of December 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, holidaymakers and business travellers won\u2019t need to have six months left on their passports to travel to the EU.<\/p>\n

\u201cPassports do however need to be valid for the whole of any trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

Holidaymakers unsure how Brexit will affect travel plans can visit www.abta.com\/brexit<\/a> for Abta\u2019s latest advice.<\/p>\n

A survey of 2,004 UK adults commissioned by the ferry industry earlier this month indicated that more than two-thirds of people (68%) were not sure what changes will apply for travel to EU countries after Brexit, with 30% incorrectly believing they would need a visa.<\/p>\n

Trade organization Discover Ferries director Emma Batchelor said: \u201cIt is clear that there is a lot of confusion around travel to EU countries this year, resulting in many people delaying their holiday plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would therefore like to reassure anyone looking to travel by ferry this year that there are no changes. All valid passports, EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) cards and pet passports will still be authorized for travel to the EU and there will not be any new requirement for visas to Europe or passports to travel to the British Isles.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesman for Airlines UK, which represents UK-based carriers, said inbound and outbound flights will continue as normal during the implementation period.<\/p>\n

He called for a standalone air services agreement on aviation to be negotiated \u201cas soon as possible\u201d to protect flights from 2021 onwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will ensure our industry can continue to thrive and provide vital economic connections and tourism links to the advantage of UK and EU passengers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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