Last June 2016, the United Kingdom opted to remove its membership to the European Union. The decades-old agreements, treaties and other constitutional bonds are about to be separated with foreign trade, traveling and almost every industry in both nations affected heavily. Travelers would today be affected by these changes positive and negatively.
According to The Independent, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) finds both advantages and disadvantages for both UK and EU travelers heading into the United Kingdom. ABTA calls on replacing existing EU agreements on traveler medical care and exemptions for British travelers going to Europe. The plan is similar to the constitutional interaction of Norway with the EU; Norway is a country with access to the EU's markets while retaining their citizen's rights to travel and enjoy EU rights without being a member.
ABTA strongly favored the United Kingdom to "remain" in the European Union during the June 2016 referendum on the UK's EU membership. According to ABTA, European citizens employed in travel companies in the United Kingdom could destabilize many UK and EU companies.
Some advantages to the Brexit for both parties include improving the UK's Air Passenger Duty; the EU doubled it taxation value and Britain has a chance to reduce it for both parties to improve travel from Northern Ireland to the UK.
The Telegraph believes the Brexit paves the way for increased travel. Brexit could lead to a "radical disintegration of the Union" that could lead to individual countries re-employing of border patrols and stricter measures to enter countries. This could mean longer travel times for all foreign travelers and severe visa requirements.
Airlines may also see the removal of several budget airline routes from Britain to Europe. The fares enjoyed by customers in these routes could or could not continue depending on negotiations between the countries once the EU disintegration, likely fueled by the Brexit, would push through.
Perhaps the biggest issue for travelers would be the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that allows UK and EU citizens to have free or discounted treatment in different EU countries. The new agreement between the UK and the EU could be mutual if the United Kingdom would continue the EHIC for European travelers post-Brexit.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May had recently sent a letter to the European Commission, the first step to UK's Brexit process. All of these speculations could soon become true and directly affect travelers worldwide.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
