Joining The Eurozone - Consequences For Tourists

New Year Champagne

The entrance of Malta to the Eurozone may lead to increase in prices for both certain everyday goods and vacation tours. This shall primarily affect British tourists who make up a significant part of European buyers of tours to Malta. At present, tours to Malta are sold very well in Great Britain, since their cost, calculated on the basis of the Maltese lira, is lower than that of competing tours to Eurozone resorts, like Spain or France. According to experts of the tourist market, after France, Spain and Greece passed to Euro six years ago, the cost of vacation in these countries increased significantly, although before 2002 tours to Spain and Greece had been the cheapest of all European countries. During several months after introduction of Euro, all prices have increased in Greece and almost doubled in Spain. We are warned that Malta and Cyprus that have also passed to Euro may even head the rating of the most expensive European resorts.

However, we should not neglect the positive example of Portugal where introduction of Euro hardy influenced increase in prices and that of Italy that had been one of the most expensive tourist directions before 2002, but managed to "cheapen" a little bit and now offers reasonable vacation for reasonable money. Meanwhile, vacation in Spain that had once been extremely cheap, remains one of the most expensive in the Eurozone. If prognoses come true, Malta and Cypress may become even more expensive.

Well, there are not only financial consequences of this process. The inhabitants of Austria have built barriers in their bordering towns that are located near the Eastern new members of the Eurozone. They seem to dislike this expansion and are frightened of the neighbors that are able to cross the border freely now.

Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His travel directions site is http://www.tripspirit.com