You may need more than a credencial to walk the camino

[jirit]

If you are American or Canadian please take note.

The European Union executive is considering whether to make U.S. and Canadian citizens apply for visas before traveling to the bloc, a move that could raise tensions as Brussels negotiates a trade pact with Washington. To learn more...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com//rep.../article29549412/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globefb

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKCN0X4183?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

 

[jirit]

It is obviously a political game that is being played out.

However if the game continues after next Tuesday, things could get interesting

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/eu-to-discuss-requiring-visas-for-canadian-travellers-1.2850741

 

[Anniesantiago]

Sheesh.
Glad I'm leaving Thursday!

 

[jirit]

My guess is that if anything really happens, the EU will slap on Tourist Visa tax on each plane ticket for those arriving from Canada or the USA.

Much like the Australian ETA

 

[jirit]

That said I discovered that Canada is implementing a similar visa program like Australia has.

Looks like my prediction might be correct

Canada as of last month is imposing ETAs on EU visitors arriving by air

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

I can see same done for Canadians and Americans arriving by air into the EU

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The European Union executive is considering whether to make U.S. and Canadian citizens apply for visas before traveling to the bloc

When the U.S. dramatically increased airport screening, security in the United Kingdom retaliated with near strip searches of Americans! Now everyone has enhanced screening, so there is no point to retaliation. If visas become necessary for North Americans, expect reciprocity (I won't call it retaliation even if that is what it will be).

I still advocate Speedos and zoris for men while traveling. Nothing else.

 

[Older Guy]

Visa's are an interesting topic. Most countries that required them, try to make them really easy for tourists that want to spend money.

For example, Russia has special Visa rules for tourists on cruise ships that want to visit certain ports. Turkey has an internet available visa that is basically just to collect a little extra hard currency. Even someplace like Cuba up until recently, if you were a US citizen and were traveling from Mexico (or so I have been told by others) the person at the Cuban airport looking for Visa's would just a ask for a small donation not to stamp your US passport.

With the EU economy where it is at the moment, and the importance of tourism to many of the EU nations, if there are new Visa rules, they will likely be implemented slowly or be made to be pretty easy to get, as long as you are willing to pay.

In the long term, this could be an issue, but not in the short term as tourism is far too important a source of Gross Domestic Product to many countries.

 

[jirit]

I don't think a 10 euro fee for a ETA is going to stop a lot of tourists coming to Europe.

Nearly 12 million Americans went to Europe in 2014 ( a record) and I doubt this number will change much

UPDATE

In 2014, there were over 582 million international tourist arrivals to Europe, an increase of 3.0% over 2013.

American and Canadian visitors barely register in the grand scheme of things

 

[Kathar1na]

I couldn't make head or tail of this news report at first (lots of technical inaccuracies). This euobserver article is probably a fairly accurate summary of the legal situation as well as the legal/political situation. Nothing will change for US and Canadian visitors to EU countries such as Spain and France. Certainly not next Tuesday (12 April) and not this year (2016) either.

 

[NJ McKay]

From what I've read today on CBC - if the ruling continues and visa's are required there will be a grace period over the summer and changes won't come into affect for 6 or 9 months after that. It sounds like things would be moving slowly and won't happen this year. I'm not that politically savvy so I don't quite understand the issues going on but I hope things work out for everyone in this.

I've also been told obtaining visa's isn't that difficult so it shouldn't stop any tourists traveling in the EU.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

My guess is that if anything really happens, the EU will slap on Tourist Visa tax on each plane ticket for those arriving from Canada or the USA.

Much like the Australian ETA

A tax for flying from a country regardless of your citizenship? That would mean they would also tax their own citizens flying to Spain from Canada as well as all other European. Makes little sens.

 

[jirit]

A tax for flying from a country regardless of your citizenship? That would mean they would also tax their own citizens flying to Spain from Canada as well as all other European. Makes little sens.

To clarify - it would be a tax based on your citizenship

 

[dougfitz]

A tax for flying from a country regardless of your citizenship? That would mean they would also tax their own citizens flying to Spain from Canada as well as all other European. Makes little sens.

Australia has been doing this since the late 1970s. If it happens, you will get used to it, and pay it if you want to travel.

@jirit, the electronic travel authority (ETA) is a form of visa, not a departure tax. That is the passenger movement charge (PMC). The Australian Government gets overseas visitors on the way into the country, and everyone on the way out.

 

[grayland]

This thread has deteriorated into a downward spiral of political "stuff"...
In direct violation of forum rules.

It should not be a surprise that it is closed for now.
It may be reopened to continue the original discussion without political/national posting.