New research commissioned by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warns that prolonged border delays linked to the rollout of Europe’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) could put up to 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending at risk from four of Europe’s most important source markets.
The Independent reported that British travellers have been warned of queues up to six hours long at European airports this summer, in a warning given by Rafael Schvartzman, Iata’s vice-president for Europe. Delays and missed flight connections have missed flight connections have already been seen in European countries, including Portugal, Spain and Italy, following full rollout of the EES in April.
More gloomy news was reported by The Guardian in that the new EU border system that has triggered hours-long delays at big airports may not “stabilise” for two years, warned Uku Särekanno, a director of the EU border agency Frontex, who said some member states were “struggling” to adopt EES.
Särekannotold said, “We expect that the situation will stabilise in one or two years. The most challenging part is the first enrolment, that is the moment where fingerprints and facial images will be taken. If a person is visiting the EU again, they don’t have to go through the same process, so they can have a more fast track of entry.”
Visits to Europe may decline if faced with long queues at border control
WTTC’S latest analysis, based on a survey of more than 2,500 travellers from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia, found that if travellers face regular border waits of three to four hours when entering the Schengen Area, around one-third would become much less likely to travel to Schengen or would choose not to visit at all.
The findings highlight a critical challenge for European destinations as they introduce EES. While travellers broadly support stronger, more modern border controls, their willingness to visit Europe declines sharply when faced with the prospect of lengthy and unpredictable queues. This underscores how ineffective queue management at border crossing points can have a direct negative impact on the overall traveller experience.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “The introduction of EES is an important step forward in modernising Europe’s borders and strengthening security. Our research clearly shows that travellers support digital and biometric border systems and understand the long-term benefits they can deliver.
As with any major transformation, there will inevitably be teething problems. The challenge now is not whether EES should proceed, but how governments, border authorities and the Travel & Tourism sector work together to ensure implementation is as smooth as possible.”
Three priority actions
To support a successful rollout, WTTC is calling for three priority actions:
- Member States should accelerate adoption of the Travel to Europe app for digital pre-registration.
- A coordinated communication campaign is needed across key source markets particularly the UK, US, Australia and Canada. Clear step by step guidance should be provided to airlines, airports, travel agents, tour operators and destination partners so that travellers understand exactly what is required before they travel.
- Member States must ensure operational readiness across all border crossing points. This includes fully functioning equipment, sufficient staffing levels and measures to streamline processing wherever possible, including for travellers who have already provided biometric data through visa procedures.
The findings suggest that with the right combination of technology, communication and operational preparedness, Europe can realise the benefits of modern digital borders while maintaining a positive visitor experience.
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