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Steps UK government is taking to make sure travel and commerce remain unaffected after #Brexit

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After Brexit, there’s a good chance that many Brits will still want to travel to and from Europe for holidays and business. If the UK leaves without a deal, then the rules are likely to change somewhat. However, the government is trying to ensure that UK nationals’ and UK business’ working conditions aren’t impacted. The same too applies to online commerce, which may have to change too, but not obviously and not immediately.

Travel in the event of a no-deal Brexit

It remains unclear how, when and on what terms the UK is going to exit the EU. Despite the uncertainty, many people are still making holiday and travel plans. The UK government and the European Commission has already put in place certain policies for a no deal situation. For British travellers, no visa requirements should be necessary and stays of up to 90 days will be allowed.

Travelling to Europe in the event of a no deal Brexit means UK citizens will need to check their passports, ensuring it is valid for at least six months before travelling. However, regardless of what kind of deal there is, the government says that travel to Ireland will remain the same.

In fact, travel to and from Europe will largely remain the same too; flight operators like easyJet have not planned any changes to either their schedule or their booking system, and it says it has already put in to place structures that will maintain its network across Europe whatever the Brexit outcome.

Roaming charges (probably) staying the same

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Since 2017, when the EU scrapped roaming charges for Europeans traveling to other EU countries, the UK has enjoyed relatively cheap mobile roaming charges when abroad. But after any Brexit transition period, UK mobile operators will be able to reintroduce them if they want to. However, some like O2, have said that there are no plans to change roaming charges or services throughout Europe after Brexit.

Online EU retailers and Brexit

When it comes to eCommerce, while subtle changes will undoubtedly take effect, shoppers are unlikely to notice a different experience when shopping online. The biggest consideration won’t be how online shoppers will be directed to different retail websites (EU regulation requires all online buyers be treated equal, with equal access to the same product catalogues), but it might result in EU online stores creating separate sites for non-EU customers. However, this is unlikely to happen in the short term while import duties and trade agreements are negotiated between the UK and EU in the coming years.

Online gaming rules

While there may some potential discomfort concerning online shopping and travel to and from Europe, some retailers will be affected but some will stay the same. When it comes to online gaming sites, many (including bingo, casino and sportsbook operators) work out of places like Gibraltar and Malta and may find transition more difficult. However, UK-based operators like Buzz Bingo, which is as British as fish and chips, don’t need to change either their land-based or online business at all. That means that Friday night at the bingo, watching Saturday football and enjoying a hearty Sunday roast can remain as the hugely popular constants of British life.

However other gaming sites registered in Europe - and especially new ones starting - will still have to apply for a licence through the UK, which has always been separate from EU law. Many sites might have to make decisions on where they want to base their operations if they want to operate in the UK.

For the most part, regardless of what kind of Brexit will be finally agreed on, the travel experience will largely remain the same for British visitors to Europe, apart from the customs line they will now have to queue up in. No additional visas will be required and, for the short term, mobile roaming charges aren’t going to return to the sky-high tariffs seen in the past. And, for online retail and gaming, most British-based companies won’t feel any difference at all, apart from perhaps a potential shift in the value of the pound, which is an altogether different topic entirely.

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