Facebook LIVE – Travel Industry News – August 3, 2023
🗺️ The European Union is set to kick off their ETIAS travel authorisation program early 2024 for all-non EU citizens visiting on short-term stays of less 90 days within a 180 day period.
What does ETIAS stand for? European Travel Information and Authorization System. And it’s often referred to as the ETIAS visa.
Here is the list of 30 EU countries that will require the ETIAS:
• AUSTRIA
• BELGIUM
• BULGARIA
• CROATIA
• CYPRUS
• CZECH REPUBLIC
• DENMARK
• ESTONIA
• FINLAND
• FRANCE
• GERMANY
• GREECE
• HUNGARY
• ICELAND
• ITALY
• LATVIA
• LIECHTENSTEIN
• LITHUANIA
• LUXEMBOURG
• MALTA
• THE NETHERLANDS
• NORWAY
• POLAND
• PORTUGAL
• ROMANIA
• SLOVAKIA
• SLOVENIA
• SPAIN
• SWEDEN
• SWITZERLAND
An exact start date has not yet been released. So before entering into any of the countries listed above, you will have to apply for the ETIAS online (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en). It should be relatively simple process: you will only need your passport and a credit card. The cost will 7 euro, which is about $7.40 per person, for those who are between age 18 to 70 years old. Those under 18 or over age 70 can apply for free. Family members of EU citizens also do not have to pay to apply. No recommendations yet on how early you should apply but the approval process should only take between a few hours up to 4 days at most. However, if the EU authorities need more documentation or an interview with the applicant, the process could take up to 30 days.
Once approved, your ETIAS travel authorisation is valid for three years or until your passport expires – whichever comes first.
Again, no exact date yet but after two years delay, the EU is ready to get started. I’ll keep you updated but all expectations point to January 1, 2024.
🗺️ In other travel visa news, the UK hopes to have its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) implemented by the end of 2024. You remember BREXIT, right? So the UK is no longer part of the EU. UK countries are:
• ENGLAND
• SCOTLAND
• WALES
• NORTHERN IRELAND
So stay tuned to this channel for the UK’s eVisa start dates at or near the end 2024…
🗺️ The US State Department has been updating its Travel Advisories recently, so if you’re registered for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program – (https://step.state.gov/) you should’ve received STEP Notifications for Spain, Turkey, Italy, France, South Africa, etc. in the last week or so.
So far, those countries have a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution while Botswana is Level 1: Exercise Normal Caution.
🗺️ Amsterdam’s city council voted to recommend a ban on large cruise ships from docking in the city center as part of its efforts to cutback both on the number of tourists visiting the city as well as reduce pollution. The initial report caused quite a stir in the cruise world until it was clarified to be a recommendation only. Because Amsterdam is a major stop for ocean and river cruises, many discussion and investigations from all parties involved (the local port authority up to several international organizations) are needed before any real movement might be made on this vote.
🗺️ A heat wave is affecting the world. Europe is suffering from extreme temperatures, wildfires, overcrowding, and lack of air conditioners in accommodations. The brutal heat has caused evacuations on a few Greek Islands plus some popular tourist attractions like the Parthenon in Athens and the Colosseum in Rome have had to close either during daylight hours or close completely.
🗺️ US Passports are still estimated at 10-13 weeks processing for routine and 7-9 weeks for expedited. Those estimates do not include the 2 weeks for applications to arrive by mail at a passport agency or center and the 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport in the mail after they process it.
As previously mentioned, for new applications only and children, Special Passport Acceptance Fairs (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/passports/special-passport-acceptance-fairs.html) are taking place around the country in August and now extended through September 2023. As mentioned before, for most of these fairs, you must make an appointment in advance via the link on the website.
🗺️ Effective January 1, 2024, cruisers on sailings that visit the Bahamas can expect to pay more in port taxes – even if they’ve already paid their cruise in full with some cruise lines. And as a result of the tax increase, cruise lines are reaching out to booked guests to let them know they may need to pay a little bit more for their cruise.
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