EU’s green travel plan could stop tourists visiting Spain

King Charles to be a travelling monarch says Arbiter

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

A European Union plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions could put tourists off holidays in Spain. Spain is currently one of the UK’s leading tourist destinations.

Consultancy firm Deloitte looked at the impact of the European Union’s ‘Fit for 55’ plan on the bloc’s tourism industry.

It found that measures like ticket taxes and sustainable aviation fuel could stop 11 million tourists visiting Spain.

Spain could also be set to lose billions of euros in tourism revenue and over 400,000 jobs in the industry.

The EU’s Fit for 55 package is a plan to revise and update the bloc’s legislation to ensure its climate goals are in line with the European Parliament.

The EU is aiming to increase the use of sustainable fuels by aircrafts and ships and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport sectors.

It will also introduce higher taxes on aviation fuels and tickets and tighten current caps on carbon emissions.

It is expected the plans will raise the price of a holiday to Spain and could discourage tourists from visiting the Mediterranean country.

Deloitte predicts that 11 million international tourists could ditch Spanish holidays due to rising costs.

The president of Spain’s Association of Airlines (ALA), Javier Gándara, said: “In the aviation sector we are committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

“We share the goal with the EU and with our Government, but we believe that there are other solutions on the way to achieve that goal that are more effective and favourable for the economy and employment.”

The UK’s Transport Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, has also urged the aviation industry to become more sustainable.

The UK has said at least 10 percent of jet fuel will need to be from sustainable sources by 2030.

Flying accounts for around 2.5 percent of global CO2 emissions and also emits nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides.

Experts suggest that passengers can be more environmentally friendly by opting for direct flights and choosing a seat in economy.

Business and first class seats take up more room than economy which make them far more polluting.

Passengers can also choose to offset their carbon emissions although some experts say it does not have much impact.

Spain is currently one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations and many Britons travel to the sunny Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca.

In 2021, over four million British tourists visited Spain despite pandemic restrictions remaining in place.

Pre-pandemic, around 18 million Britons travelled to Spain for a holiday to destinations such as Benidorm and Majorca.

According to Deloitte’s research, the EU’s new plans could discourage some of those Britons from making the trip.

Source: Read Full Article