Brits are reportedly ditching Spain over its implementation of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), instead opting for Greece, which scrapped the controversial procedure. According to the Advantage Travel Partnership, which represents over 700 travel agencies, there are nowmore new summer bookings for Greecethan Spain from UK holidaymakers.
The partnership told The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder that the share of bookings for mainland Spain dropped from 8.7% to 7% in the last two weeks of April. On the flip side,the share of bookings for Greece increasedfrom 7.7% in mid-April to 9.8% at the end of the month.
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Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage, told the outlet: "We have seen a clear and consistent uplift in demand for the destination across our travel agent membership.
"This shift suggests that travellers are increasingly factoring in the potential for disruption at EU borders when making their holiday choices and are actively opting for destinations where the arrival experience is likely to be smoother and more predictable.
"It reinforces our long-standingposition that the rollout of EES in its currentform risks undermining confidence at a critical time when families are thinking of booking for the summer.
"While we welcome pragmatic decisions such as Greece’s to ease pressure during the peak summer period, a broader, coordinated pause across the EU remains essential.
"This would give authorities the necessary time to address operational challenges, ensure consistency across destinations, and ultimately protect the traveller experience."
Other popular Europeandestinations have been urged to halt the EESafter Portugal and Italy joined Greece in easing border checks.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
