Thursday, September 19, 2024 Aito hosted a webinar with FCDO’s Louise Nicholls, addressing concerns about the upcoming European Entry System and its potential impact on travelers. The Association of Independent Tour Operators (Aito) recently held a webinar featuring Louise Nicholls, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) diplomatic engagement lead, which was attended by over 100 Aito members. The discussion centered around the European Entry System (EES), which mandates the recording of biometric and fingerprint data at EU borders.
Aito expressed its reassurance regarding the UK government’s lobbying efforts with the EU to address potential issues arising from this new system. Aito has called for EU member states to implement flexible measures during peak travel periods to alleviate long delays anticipated after the EES launch on November 10. There are concerns that not all border points will be adequately equipped to manage the influx of travelers, which could lead to significant bottlenecks at critical times.
Christina Brazier, Aito’s head of industry affairs, emphasized the importance of pragmatic solutions, highlighting that the ability to relax measures during busy periods would help ensure that clients are not adversely affected by the EES regulations. Successful implementation relies heavily on the preparedness and training of border control personnel. While the November 10 start date for the EES remains in place, the FCDO has indicated that fo.