British holidaymakers turn to Tunisia, Cuba and Mexico and shun Spain for their summer breaks as nerves rise about Brexit
- Bookings to countries further afield such as Turkey and the United States are up
- Tunisia is one of the most popular destinations – 3 years after the terror attack
- Bookings to Spanish resorts such as the Canary and Balearic Islands have dipped
- The EU has threatened to curb British flights in Europe under no deal Brexit plans
British holidaymakers are starting to shun European destinations and instead heading to countries like Tunisia and Mexico amid concerns about Brexit.
Tour operator Thomas Cook said tourists are heading further afield for their summer break, with bookings to the US and Cuba up.
Meanwhile, bookings to Spanish resorts including the Canary and Balearic Islands have dipped.
The findings have come amid growing concerns that a no deal Brexit could cause holiday chaos to many Britons making their getaways.
Brussels yesterday threatened to stop British airlines from flying between EU airports, or operating services from Europe to the US.
While the pound has tumbled against the euro amid fears political deadlock in Parliament will send Britain hurtling towards a no deal Brexit.
It is unclear if holidaymakers are picking different destinations because they fear travel chaos caused by a no deal Brexit, or because they are better value.
Tunisia (pictured) is one of the big ‘trending’ destinations for 2019 after Thomas Cook reintroduced package holidays under a year ago – three years after the Sousse terror attack
Cuba is also one of the destinations which is seeing bookings soar as British holidaymakers head further afield (pictured, Havana )
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Thomas Cook, one of the UK’s biggest tour operators, said they are seeing families heading further afield for their holidays with bookings to Cancun, LA and New York also up.
What no-deal Brexit plans have been unveiled by the EU?
AIR TRAVEL
Temporary measures were adopted to avoid ‘full interruption’ of air traffic between the EU and UK.
But the commission warned they will only ensure ‘basic connectivity’ and ‘in no means replicate the significant advantages of membership of the Single European Sky’.
British airlines would be allowed to operate flights between the UK and the continent.
However, they would be barred from flying between EU airports, or operating services from Europe to the US.
UK CITIZENS IN THE EU
The commission urged EU27 states to take a ‘generous’ approach to the rights of UK citizens in the EU following a no-deal Brexit, ‘provided that this approach is reciprocated by the UK’.
But it warned that UK nationals living in the bloc will be subject to its rules on the ‘right to enter, reside and work in the EU Member States’.
They will need a ‘residence permit or a long-stay visa from the national migration authorities’.
UK holidaymakers should be exempted from visa requirements, provided that all EU citizens are equally exempt from UK visas.
FINANCIAL SECTOR
A 12-month equivalence decision ensuring there will be no immediate disruption in the central clearing of derivatives
A 24-month equivalence decision to avoid disruption in central depositories services for EU operators currently using UK operators
Two 12-month regulations allowing the renewal of certain over-the-counter derivatives contracts
The operator said: ‘Families are being more adventurous than ever before and the thought of taking the little ones to further afield destinations is no longer daunting – it’s the new normal.
‘Over the past two years, Thomas Cook Airlines flight-only bookings among families have consistently grown.
‘This July, family long-haul trips were up 64 per cent year-on-year, while August trips were up 44 per cent.’
While bookings to north African destinations have also surged, with Tunisia ‘trending’ – three and a half years after the Sousse terror attack.
Some 30 Brits were slaughtered when a gunman opened fire on a popular beach resort in June 2015.
Tour operators pulled the plug on package holidays in the country in the wake of the deadly attack, but demand has surged since they were reintroduced at the beginning of the year.
Thomas Cook said: ‘Driven by quality holidays at an affordable price thanks to it being a non-Euro destination, as well as its soft white sands and rich roman heritage, appetite for Tunisia shows no sign of slowing down and Thomas Cook is predicting it as a hotspot for 2019.
‘This time last year summer 2018 package holidays had only been available to book for a few months however bookings for next summer are currently up five-fold, indicating that sunshine at a fair price is a factor in the return of this old favourite destination.
‘The share of family bookings is up 16 per cent year-on-year meaning that families so far account for 66 per cent of summer 2019 bookings – a higher proportion than to the Canaries or Cyprus.’
A spokesman for ABTA – the Association of British Travel Agents – said: ‘Europe is the number one destination people plan to visit next year and favourites such as Spain, Portugal and Greece are expected to still receive a large share of visitors.
‘Other destinations offering excellent value for money and a favourable exchange rate are also set to perform well; bookings to Bulgaria for next summer are up 29 per cent to date, while Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia are also expected to attract more UK tourists.’
The EU yesterday published its own no documents – and warned it could spark holiday chaos for British tourists.
As Britons head further afield for their holidays, bookings to the Spanish Balearic Islands have dipped (pictured Cathedral La Seu and harbour, Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker today announced the bloc has started implementing no-deal Brexit plans
EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said a disorderly British exit would be a ‘catastrophe’, while one EU official warned of the worst border disruption ‘since wartime’.
The EU commission revealed the details as it announced it has started implementing its ‘no deal’ Contingency Action Plan.
According to the plans, British airlines would be allowed to operate flights between the UK and the continent.
However, they would be barred from flying between EU airports, or operating services from Europe to the US.
The Brussels blueprint covers 14 areas where UK withdrawal without a deal would create ‘major disruption for citizens and businesses’ in the remaining 27 EU states, including financial services, air transport and customs.
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