England’s seaside resorts face new threats post-Brexit

In 2022, Patricia Yates, chief executive of VisitBritain, testified to the DCMS Select Committee about the negative impact of post-Brexit regulations on inbound tourism, particularly the ban on EU visitors using identity cards. This decision has significantly reduced school visits to destinations like Hastings, which rely heavily on such tourism. In 2023, the UK government announced that French school groups could visit with ID cards, marking a reversal of previous restrictions. However, the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, set to be mandatory by April 2025, raises concerns about the future of these visits, as ETAs are linked to passports only. The Home Office is currently reviewing the implications of this policy for school groups. The tourism industry has faced substantial losses since the ID card ban was implemented in October 2021. Joss Croft, chief executive of UKinbound, noted that while the ETA system has been in development for years, the previous government had considered expanding passport-free travel to other European countries. The current insistence on passport-only ETAs complicates the situation for French school groups, as it may prevent them from visiting without each member possessing a passport. Additionally, ferry services between France and the Channel Islands are at risk due to the expiration of a special agreement allowing French day-trippers to enter with ID cards. This agreement, which has been crucial for tourism, will end in 2025, further threatening the local economy. The Channel Islands, while self-governing, align their immigration policies with the UK, and the ID card ban has already had a detrimental effect on day-trip tourism from France. The government’s push to digitize the immigration system through ETAs may enhance security but poses significant challenges for the tourism sector.