- Greece has surpassed mainland Spain in new summer holiday bookings from UK travellers, a significant shift as Spain is typically the leading destination for British holidaymakers.
- This surge in bookings for Greece follows Athens' unilateral decision in mid-April to disregard the European Commission's instructions regarding the EU entry-exit system and abolish biometric border checks for British visitors.
- Data from the Advantage Travel Partnership shows Greece's share of bookings increased from 7.7 per cent to 9.8 per cent by the end of April, while mainland Spain's share dropped from 8.7 per cent to 7 per cent.
- Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage, attributes this trend to travellers prioritising destinations with smoother and more predictable arrival experiences, highlighting concerns about potential disruption at EU borders.
- Despite Greece's move lacking legal basis, Brussels has not yet intervened, though the European Commission maintains that the roll-out of the EU entry-exit system is progressing well in most other locations.
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