The delay has happened without any official warning or announcement by the EU, they have simply changed the date on the EU Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs website from November 2023 to 2024.
“It is expected that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be operational in 2024,” the website states.
Similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) required to visit the US, anyone between the ages of 18 and 70 will need an ETIAS.
The new scheme was announced after the UK left the EU and was meant to launch in 2021.
However, it was then delayed to November 2023 - and has since been postponed again to next year.
The official website states: “Starting from 2024, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorisation to enter most European countries.”
When enforced, the ETIAS visa will cost €7 (£6.10) and lasts for three years or until your passport expires.
The scheme has been criticised by the Spanish tourist authorities. Tourism leaders have sounded a warning about losing millions of Britons if the European Union introduced the new tourist tax later this year. Spanish Tourism Board is particularly concerned about the impact of this tax on British tourism, “our main outbound market with 18 million arrivals in 2019”.
It should also be borne in mind that the measure, should it go ahead, will be added to the other local tourist taxes that tourists are already paying for visiting certain Spanish destinations likes the Balearics.
“We are issuing a warning in relation to these two issues that seem to be going unnoticed, but which constitute two potential threats to the competitiveness of the Spanish tourism sector,” said the president of the Mesa del Turismo, Juan Molas.
2 comments
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First, this has nothing to do with Britain specifically, it's actually going to speed up the process when non-EU nationals arrive, which should be rather welcome to those who've previously stood in queues. Second, it remains to be seen, but supposedly the online registration process is supposed to be quite simple, so no big hurdles there. Lastly, nobody's trying to "get rid of" Brits. Brits voted to leave the EU, not the other way around. But also, Mallorca in particular is hardly dependent on British tourism, since tourism is already booming and near saturation, and nearly 80% of tourism comes from elsewhere (and growing), including other non-EU countries. So there's not a lot of motivation to engage in exceptionalism for that specific nationality. And frankly, Brits aren't known to be big spenders anyway. l But 6 quid, over three years, jeez, that's more than you'll pay for your brekkies lunch and tea at a typical 3* British all-inclusive place. Besides, Mallorca is growing up, becoming a bit more classy, upscale, and increasingly attractive to a bit different demographic nowadays. And that's the future. Sorry. But it's not only Mallorca or Brits that this applies to (over 170 other nationalities too!). Oddly though, Brits seem to be the only ones engaging in fury and outrage over it. The only ones out of them all. Funny that. Shucks. Well, there's always Blackpool, Brighton, and Margate.
Its not so much the actual cost in £s that will be the issue but the hassle factor involved. Going on holiday should be a pleasure and filling it forms, obtaining visas etc will just add to the reasons to go elsewhere or stay at home. Furthermore, tourist taxes, visas etc just give the message of 'your'e not really welcome here, but if you are going to come we will do our best to fleece you and make it as complicated as possible'. But the increasing perception in the UK is that Mallorca doesn't want tourists, so perhaps everything is going to plan. This perception is, rightly or wrongly, being fed by the British media but if you are going to give them the ammunition......