What will Brexit mean for travellers

SINGAPORE — Expect more tourists and longer lines at Heathrow airport.

That’s the projection from the travel industry in the immediate aftermath of Brexit as travel agents TODAY spoke with foresee there will be more travellers - Singaporean included - responding to the weakened pound.

“As we’ve seen with other destinations, over the last 12 months with South Africa and Japan, fluctuating currencies absolutely have an impact on the demand of a destination, and with the sterling weakening, we can expect to see the number of enquiries increase over the summer period,” said Mr Nico Heath, co-founder and Singapore director of Lightfoot Travel.

Chan Brothers Travel revealed the company has experienced a 30 per cent increase in demand for travel to the United Kingdom from last year as the British pound has been steadily falling against the Singapore dollar since last August. “Should the pound keep sliding, precipitated by the referendum on European Union Brexit, this demand looks set to continue,” said Ms Jane Chang, head of marketing communications at Chan Brothers Travel.

Travel agents also anticipate that Singapore travellers who already have plans, or are considering travelling to the UK, may bring their vacation forward. “In light of the incredible exchange rate, it may encourage more Singaporeans to take full advantage sooner rather than later,” said Mr Ross Veitch, CEO and co-founder of travel search company Wego.

Frequent UK traveller Vanessa Chia, 36, who’s visited London five times in the last 18 months as her husband is studying there, agreed the cheaper pound does make travel there more attractive. However, she said: “Having a sense of how the country settles - politically as well - will also play a part in whether travellers should head there.”

The longer queues at Heathrow from the anticipated increase in tourists could be exacerbated in the longer term when the implications of Brexit come into effect. Currently, EU residents pass through immigration via a separate line. But this could change and EU residents may have to join the queue with other non-EU residents.

While London may be appealing to leisure travellers in the short-term, it could lose its shine among business travellers.

Singapore hotelier Loh Lik Peng, who owns Town Hall Hotel in East End, London, said Brexit has put the UK capital in a weaker position economically, which could lead to fewer people travelling there for business and endangering its status among business travellers.

“London isn’t just a travel destination — it’s a business destination. The most lucrative part of the hotel industry is always from corporate travellers as they pay higher rates and are much less volatile (compared to leisure travellers),” he said, adding that there needs to be a balance, even if leisure travel to UK might increase in the short run.

Whether the appeal of a weaker pound on UK’s tourism will have a lasting effect remains to be seen.

Mr Veitch said the turmoil following Brexit could also determine future travel patterns and whether London remains appealing to international travellers looking for a gateway to Europe.

Mr Veitch said: “Whether travellers select alternative European capitals for easier access to EU countries will depend on the negotiations that the UK government put in place with the EU following the decision.”

“As a long-serving entry hub to Europe, London may now be increasingly challenged by other key EU hub airports such as Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam which will offer inbound travellers easier onward movement around EU member countries,” he added.