What the UK Election Means for Travel

Image: PHOTO: Palace of Westminster in London. (photo via Flickr/Berit Watkin)
Image: PHOTO: Palace of Westminster in London. (photo via Flickr/Berit Watkin)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 11:45 AM ET, Fri June 9, 2017

The stunning results of Thursday's U.K. general election have prompted tremendous uncertainty regarding upcoming Brexit negotiations with the European Union and thus could have a dramatic impact on travel.

Reuters reported British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party lost its majority in the snap election meant to bolster its standing in Parliament.

The resulting political turmoil led the pound to quickly fall more than 1.5 percent to the dollar and more than 1 percent to the euro, according to the Mirror. It has since stabilized at $1.28 and €1.14.

However, since the election results could potentially derail May's vision of a "hard Brexit", they could have a positive impact on the pound in the long-term.

"As the results have rolled in and confirmed the exit poll result, the pound has remained relatively stable, suggesting that the prospect of a hung Parliament and a second vote is not triggering market panic," City Index research director Kathleen Brooks told the Mirror.

"Perhaps the market is looking at this result as a vote for a softer Brexit, which could boost the pound in the long run."

Brexit talks were scheduled to begin June 19.

Much like last year's shocking vote to leave the EU, the uncertainty created by the general election has hurt the pound, in turn ensuring the U.K. will remain an affordable destination for international visitors in the short-term at least. TravelPulse's Gabe Zaldivar reported in March that VisitBritain was seeing positive tourism trends in wake of Brexit. The country saw a 1.5 percent increase in visits during 2016 as well as a 1.1 percent increase in tourism spend.

"Tourism is a shining star in an uncertain world," former VisitBritain chairman Christopher Rodrigues told the Guardian last year on the heels of a record July 2016. "As our fourth-biggest service export, and one of our fastest growing sectors, tourism's importance as a key economic driver and job creator is clear."

[READMORE] READ MORE: Europe Expects Solid Tourism Growth in 2017 [/READMORE]

Meanwhile, the weaker pound could potentially deter some Britons from spending overseas, especially in markets where their money won't go as far. The Mirror points out that U.K. travelers can combat economic issues by opting for multiple payment methods, purchasing buyback guarantees and tracking exchange rates to cash in at the best times.

There's still plenty to be sorted out in terms of Brexit and what it will mean for travel to and from the U.K.

In the meantime, one of the world's premier destinations appears poised to remain on sale for international travelers.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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