Latest news with #UKtourists
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers named
Resorts in Spain and Portugal are the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers this summer, according to a new report. Malaga and Palma de Mallorca in Spain top the list, followed by Faro in Portugal, research by easyJet Holidays found. Other popular destinations included Rhodes, Tenerife and Dalaman. Edinburgh and Belfast were said to be the most popular domestic destinations for people holidaying closer to home or visiting relatives. The busiest day of the summer for travel will be July 30, easyJet predicted.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
British woman in her 20s 'found dead behind church during family holiday to France' had been seen 'arguing with her partner'
A British woman in her 20's allegedly found dead behind a church during a family holiday to France was seen 'arguing with her partner' in the hours before her death, it emerged tonight. The deceased – who has not yet been named – was on holiday in Barfleur, 17 miles east of the Normandy port of Cherbourg. Her lifeless body was found in a rock pool next to the coastal St Nicholas's Church by a dog walker at around 9am on Friday morning. Sources close to the investigation told Ouest France that the woman is believed to have drowned. The church overlooks the Channel. Following the opening of a criminal investigation, her partner was questioned by police, said an investigating source. Others in the couple's party from the UK have also been interviewed, following claims that she was likely to have drowned after falling into the sea. The source continued: 'They were all on holiday in Barfleur, staying in a rented cottage by the port. 'It is believed the English woman had been arguing with her partner following a night out on Thursday. 'She may have gone out to get some air, before her drowned body was found in a rock pool hours later.' It is not known if anybody had raised the alarm about the woman's initial disappearance. Sea conditions were relatively calm on Thursday night, overnight to Friday, and the temperature was warm. The area behind the church was on Friday blocked off by police teams, including forensics experts. A drone could also be seen flying across the potential crime scene, as detectives made house-to-house enquiries. Local prosecutors working with judicial police have opened a criminal investigation, and no theory for the death has yet been ruled out. An autopsy was due to be carried out over the weekend, to establish the precise cause of death. Barfleur, which has a history stretching back to before the Norman Conquest of 1066, is a member of The Most Beautiful Villages of France association. It is a small fishing village of some 700 residents in the north of France, largely untouched by tourism and rated one of the country's most attractive communes. The area regularly tops polls for being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Many of those arriving for holidays are from Britain, because of Barfleur's position on the English Channel, close to major ferry ports, and surrounded by Normandy countryside.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Brits STILL face chaos at Faro airport as huge queues form at passport control despite new post-Brexit deal allowing UK holidaymakers to use e-gates
British tourists have begun using e-gates at Faro Airport after a deal was struck with the UK Government – but they are still facing queues of nearly half an hour. The Portuguese airport has started the rollout of e-gate access to British arrivals after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed an agreement with EU leaders last month. Since Brexit, Britons arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology – leading to long waits, particularly during peak periods. But the UK Government confirmed on May 19 that British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports as part of the new UK-EU deal. It hopes the deal will smooth over 'legal barriers to e-gates use for UK nationals', once a new stamp-free biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) launches in October. Now, UK arrivals at Faro Airport have confirmed the e-gates are operational for Britons - although one said he still had to queue for about 25 minutes yesterday. He told MailOnline the e-gates were working but 'not enough', adding: 'The EU queue had periods where there were zero people and they opened it up to UK citizens. 'Considering the loyalty UK holiday makers have to Portugal it's a bit of a shame we're still treated like second-class citizens. But Portugal are leading the way - still some work to do.' Travellers arriving at Faro Airport in recent weeks – before the e-gates were opened to UK arrivals - have complained about long waits to get through the border, with the issue highlighted by the English-language publication Portugal Resident last month. It reported that passport control delays of up to three hours were 'yet again leaving travellers tired, angry and questioning the Algarve's readiness for peak tourism'. Agência de Promoção de Albufeira (Apal), the local tourism agency, said in a statement last month that it had 'deep concern' about the long queues. Francisco Vieira Pita, director of ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, claimed a security system update was to blame for the delays, adding that the airport operator had been working 'closely with the relevant authorities to minimise the impact on passengers' experience'. The Faro Airport website currently warns passengers from the UK that passport controls on arrival at Portugal 'may take up more time, as the passport will have to be stamped and there are additional questions that may be asked by the border control officers.' There is also a note to travellers saying: 'Non-Schengen flights may experience delay due to border control. We recommend arriving at the airport earlier.' But in the latest development last Thursday, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, whose brief includes EU relations, said at the despatch box that the new UK-EU deal 'makes life easier for holidaymakers'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman added later that day: 'Yesterday, Portugal opened e-gates at Faro Airport to British citizens, which will mean millions more Brits going to the Algarve will be able to use e-gates in time for the summer holidays.' He added: 'We're obviously continuing to work with other countries and other airports to ensure Brits can use more e-gates as soon as possible and that work continues. 'It's obviously good news to see a very significant airport, I think for British holidaymakers, opening e-gates to British citizens yesterday.' When he unveiled the deal last month, Sir Keir said that 'for holidaymakers wanting to get out this summer, they will want to know that they can do so easily and without delay and chaos'. The Prime Minister called on 'all EU members states to help make this a reality without delay'. Taking a question about steps 'to improve relations with the EU', Mr Thomas–Symonds told the Commons last Thursday: 'The historic deal that we signed with the EU on May 19 is in our national interests – good for bills, borders and jobs. 'It slashes red tape and bureaucracy, boosts British exporters and makes life easier for holidaymakers. Indeed, I'm delighted to confirm this morning that Faro Airport in Portugal will start the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals this week.' Faro Airport (pictured) is a popular hub for British travellers visiting the Algarve on holiday The issue over British tourists queuing abroad has been described as one of the most visible impacts of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at only a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. Meanwhile the EU is planning to launch its long-delayed EES in October. This will replace the need for people arriving in the EU from non-member countries such as the UK to have their passports stamped. Instead, they will need to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them on a database, with the data stored for three years. But there are fears this will cause queues at EU airports, as well as at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel's terminal in Folkestone and London's St Pancras railway station, where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys. The Government also announced last month that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports.
