Travel News · 5 min read · June 8, 2026

EES border queues set to cost European tourism nearly £2 billion in lost British spending this summer

1 in 30 UK holidaymakers has already changed destination because of EES queues. 1 in 5 say they are likely to. Holiday Extras models the bill.

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Holiday Extras economic modelling finds that the EU’s Entry/Exit System is on course to redirect nearly £2 billion in British tourist spending away from Schengen destinations in 2026. Research shows 1 in 30 UK holidaymakers has already changed their plans because of EES queue concerns, with almost 1 in 5 saying they are likely to. Spain faces the largest absolute loss at around £720 million, with France and Italy also significantly exposed. Greece, which suspended EES biometric checks for UK nationals in April, is modelled as the primary beneficiary, with an estimated £230 million gain in redirected spending. The booking data already reflects the shift: Greece’s share of British holiday bookings rose from 7.7% to 9.8% in the fortnight after its exemption announcement. An interactive version of the model, with all inputs adjustable, is publicly available at holidayextras.com.

Europe’s new biometric border system is on course to redirect nearly £2 billion in British tourist spending away from Schengen destinations this summer, according to economic modelling by travel company Holiday Extras.

Research by the travel brand, which specialises in airport parking, airport hotels, airport lounges and more, found that one in 30 UK holidaymakers (3.3%) have already changed their holiday plans specifically because of queues at border control, with almost a fifth (18%) saying they are likely to change their plans this year.

When applied to ONS data showing Brits make 96 million UK trips abroad at an average Schengen spend of £830 per trip, using a conservative 20% conversion rate on stated intent, the modelling suggests the Schengen Zone is at risk of losing £1.9 billion in UK tourist revenue in 2026 alone.

Winners and losers

Spain faces the largest absolute loss of any country, simply because it hosts more British visitors than anywhere else in Europe. France and Italy follow. Greece, which proactively suspended EES biometric checks for UK nationals in April, is modelled as the primary beneficiary.

The booking data already reflects the shift. Greece’s Tourism Ministry confirmed a 2.8% uplift in UK bookings for June following its exemption announcement. Trade body Advantage Travel Partnership reported Greece’s share of British holiday bookings rising from 7.7% to 9.8% in the fortnight after the announcement, with Spain showing a simultaneous softening.

Turkey and North Africa are also picking up bookings, with easyJet reporting a 21% rise in flights to Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey compared with the previous year.

“These numbers should concentrate minds across Europe. Nearly £2 billion in British tourist spending is at risk of being redirected this summer, and the market is already moving.”

“Greece made a decision to put its tourism economy first, and the bookings data shows British holidaymakers have noticed. Every week that Spain, Italy and France delay acting, more of that money flows elsewhere.”

“The pressure from airlines, airports, prime ministers and mayors across Europe tells you everything about the scale of the problem : this is not a teething issue, it is a structural failure with real economic consequences.”

Growing calls for EES suspension

Holiday Extras’ modelling comes as the list of European figures calling for EES suspension has grown rapidly since April. Three major airlines : Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 : have written formally to European governments demanding action, and the industry bodies representing European airports (ACI Europe), airlines (A4E) and global aviation (IATA) sent a joint letter to the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs.

Countries are already taking action to limit biometric collection:

• Belgium : via a formal ministerial decision
• Spain : through a 25-minute queue trigger rule at all AENA airports
• Italy : via a draft Interior Ministry decree
• France : which formally invoked the Article 9 emergency clause at Dover on 23rd May after six-hour queues formed in 30-degree heat

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has threatened suspension, the Mayor of Lisbon called it “necessary,” and the Mayor of Faro said he sees “no other solution.”