Travelers from the UK planning holidays to Europe will face significant changes affecting their trips.
Several popular European destinations, like Spain, France, Italy, and Croatia, have implemented various modifications impacting tourists exploring specific areas or attractions within those countries. These changes include visitor number limits, increased tourism taxes, and higher entrance fees in certain locations.
These adjustments coincide with a significant period for European travel, following the recent launch of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) for UK citizens traveling to the Schengen area. Before your next trip, here are some of the key alterations to be aware of when visiting popular European destinations…
On April 10th, the European Union (EU) rolled out the new Entry/Exit System (EES), mandating UK travelers to undergo digital border control processes when entering the Schengen area. Travelers must register biometric details, including fingerprints and a photograph, at the airport border upon their initial arrival in the Schengen area.
The new EES registration, replacing the previous manual passport stamping, is a free process that passengers need to complete upon arrival without any prior action required. While the EES registration might take a few additional minutes per passenger, it remains valid for three years.
Countries in the Schengen area encompass Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Note that the EES system is not applicable for travel to the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus, as they are outside the Schengen area.
For detailed information on the new EES system, you can visit the government website.
While holidays are meant for relaxation, some countries have enacted strict regulations to deter irresponsible behavior. For instance, Split, Croatia, a popular destination for UK tourists, will soon enforce a ban on alcohol sales during specific hours.
Starting this summer, alcohol sales will be prohibited from 8pm to 6am in alcohol retailers and off-licenses in Split. This measure, aimed at addressing “unacceptable” incidents of intoxicated tourists in the city’s historic district, excludes clubs and restaurants.
In Spain, several destinations have implemented restrictions on alcohol consumption and party boats in recent years to tackle disruptive tourist conduct, including the enforcement of dress codes near beach areas.
Palma, the capital of Mallorca, will reduce the daily cruise ship berths from 8,500 to 7,500 during the summer months between June and September. This move will result in fewer passengers disembarking to explore the Spanish city once the regulations come into effect from 2027 to 2029.
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