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Spain Wants The EU To Relax Post-Brexit Rule So British Holidaymakers Can Stay Indefinitely Spain News

Spain wants to relax the post-Brexit rule that states Brits travelling to Spain and other EU countries are only allowed to stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Spain is putting pressure on Brussels to change the post-Brexit rule, so that UK citizens can, once again, remain in the country indefinitely.

Fernando Valdes, the Spanish tourism secretary, said that the EU-wide ruling is proving unfavourable for his country, as it depends heavily on UK tourists.

Speaking to inewspaper, Mr Valdes said “Unfortunately, this is not something Spain has established by itself or can get rid of it.

"It is true that after Brexit some problems have emerged with people wanting to stay longer.

It is in our interest to lobby and convince the EU that we can try to work an exception with them. But the solution must come from them.

As a way of finding a solution, the Spanish and UK governments are also in the throes of negotiating a bilateral agreement on British workers in Spain, one that would not require the approval of Brussels.

Spanish tourism officials have also been focusing a new campaign on Brits who wish to escape soaring energy bills, by heading to sunnier climes. The trend, known as "thermal tourism" is seeing British people fly to cheaper and warmer European countries in order to escape the cold UK winters and the rising cost of living.

One Spanish official who spoke to The Observer said “From what we’re seeing, people are realising that it is cheaper to come here than to put the heating on at home.

He affirmed that some hotels and restaurants, in popular tourist areas, would remain open throughout the winter months.

With the rise in energy bill prices in the UK and the general increase in the cost of living, it isn’t surprising to hear that it may be cheaper to spend the winter months in Southern Europe.

Escaping the cold winter months has always been popular with UK retirees. Known as ‘swallows’, many retired Brits choose to fly to Spain for four to five months over the winter period, with some even owning holiday homes in popular Spanish holiday resorts.

Spain isn’t the only European country jumping on the ‘winter sun’ bandwagon, as Greece’s tourism minister, Vassilis Kikilias, who also spoke to The Observer, said that “Our doors are open 12 months round, our friends in northern Europe should know this. They should head here for winter.

Greece has previously announced its plans to expand its tourism levels during the winter months and in order to do this an advertising campaign has been put in place showing an older couple on a yacht, eating watermelon and drinking wine. The caption reads, “Wanna feel 20 again? With warm winter temperatures up to 20 degrees, Greece is the place to be.

It is expected that Athens, Crete, Kos, Rhodes and Thessaloniki will all be on the ‘thermal tourists’ list this year.

However, these plans that some European countries have, have been overshadowed by the harsh rules put in place after Brexit, which limits the length of time British citizens can spend in EU countries.

Source

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1694229/spain-travel-brexit-rules-british-holidaymakers-eu-law