Simon Calder on the EU Waiver, tourist tax and his travel highlights

Tell us about some of the big stories you’ve worked on this year?

I think a lot of this year has been a question of following the mood of the travel industry and that has been very much about the problems of tourism, which for most group travel organisers is absolutely terrible because most people want to celebrate the great opportunities and the huge benefits that travel has. But I’ve been looking at overtourism which has suddenly become a massive thing right across the world, from places like Venice and its new tourist tax, all the way through to Juneau in Alaska, the state capital where there is now a ship-free Saturday rule.

Having said all of that, in most parts of the world, people would love to have more tourists, because tourism is an amazing thing and a huge benefit for any destination.

Have you got any destinations you would recommend to avoid the crowds?

It’s all about finding places that come close to the big cities in every sense of the word. For example, Barcelona is incredibly popular, and rightly so, but if you head further up the coast to Girona, you’ll find another beautiful destination which is bound to be less busy. Or you could try Tarragona or Valencia, or go even further to Perpignan in France which is a lovely Catalan city.

There’s always an alternative option out there. Of course, I absolutely support and respect any country that wants to limit tourism numbers in certain places, but ultimately tourism is a great thing, and I want people to feel good about visiting new destinations.

“I think you’ve got about a year to go and see Albania before it’s discovered by the rest of the world.” 

One of the big news stories is how the EU Waiver is going to work, can you shed some light?

Every time a third country national, which means somebody from Paraguay, Venezuela, Tonga, or indeed the UK, goes to the European Union, you will be checked in with your passport. You’ll have fingerprints taken on the first time only and a facial biometric after that. This will obviously add considerable time to the coming in and out process.

Then, six months after this is up and running, we will be in a position to have a new European visa, known as an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). This is the same as an American visa permit like ESTA, with the idea being you fill in a form, pay seven euros and tell them everything about you which enables them to vet you before you have arrived.

What does this mean for British groups wanting to travel to Europe?

The constant refrain I have been working through, and we’re now past the fourth anniversary of when I started talking to the European Union about this, is what does it mean for British people and their passports now we have democratically voted to leave the EU? After lots of back and forth, I got the rules about British passports from the EU in Brussels and shared them with the government, airlines, holiday companies and anyone else who needed them. Of course, not a lot changed, and I’m still hearing of people turned away at airports for breaches they don’t understand, and it’s so sad when this happens just before someone’s holiday.

Obviously, we asked for that when we voted to leave the EU, but it’s a tragedy as people have such an emotional and financial investment in their holidays.

Have you been on any overseas trips this year that stand out?

I’ve been to the Greek island of Poros which was very welcoming, and Albania was really great. I think you’ve got about a year to go and see Albania before it’s discovered by the rest of the world. Say what you like about the South of France, and I wouldn’t go there in July and August because it’s full, but it’s absolutely gorgeous. All the way across from the Italian border through to Marseille is an absolute joy. I was really pleased to discover some new parts of the region that I have never seen before, and I loved Canada – it’s incredibly underrated.

And what about closer to home?

I went to Weston-Super-Mare which was absolutely fantastic. Also, Tynemouth to the east of Newcastle is unbelievable. I went to this fantastic restaurant on the beach where you sit around in deck chairs. There is just so much to discover across the UK. I think it’s always good to remind oneself about the brilliant places on your doorstep.