France is one of Europe’s most popular tourists destinations. It is known as the City of Love and Lights, and it has one of the world’s richest cultures and history. The government sees tourism as an important factor for its economy and have several programs to support it. However, their forecast for next year is not very good because of two major factors.

Brexit and “Yellow Vests” are to Blame

On Tuesday, October 22, the French government said that they are ditching its target of welcoming 100 million tourists next year. According to the French Finance Ministry in a budget memo online, the country will still aim to get 100 million tourists in the country. However, they are pushing their targets back to 2022. This is not the first time France made a shift in their targets. They first announced this goal in 2014.

The reason for this decision is in light to the growing anti-government protests happening in the city and Britain’s incoming exit from the European Union.

Several “yellow vest” protests started last November against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Tourists started to have second thoughts because of these protests. They happen every week and they happen in major tourists destinations. There are also clashes between the protesters and the police, which can get violent.

Recently, the authorities announced a lockdown in central Paris because of the protests.

Meanwhile, Britain’s incoming exit to the EU and the weakening its currency is also felt in France. According to Insee’s statistics reports, the number of overnight stays in France became low. It fell by 2.5% and in Ile-de-France, it went down by 4.8%. Experts say there is a big drop of tourists from the UK, which is their largest source of tourists.

British tourists can drive to France using the Channel Tunnel or take the Eurostar.

France Travel Tips

Hoping to visit France? Check out the official website of tourism in France to find out more about the country. You can also check out our guides on where to stay in Lyon, Nice, Grenoble and Toulouse. We also have a guide on the airports in Southern France.

For those who wish to work in the capital, we have a guide on the average salary and the cost of living.

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With the negotiations for Brexit close to completion, several British citizens are looking at ways to remain in the European Union. Many fear that once the negotiations are complete, the freedom to travel and live in EU countries will be gone. For a few, the no-deal Brexit will spell more problems since it looks like it is approaching that point.

Some countries understand the plight of these citizens and thought of ways to help. In Sweden, they are looking at a special permit.

The Swedish Proposal for No-Deal Brexit

On Thursday, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reported that the justice ministry filed their proposal for consideration. In their proposal, British citizens can avail special permits for them and their families once a no-deal Brexit occurs.

Justice Minister Morgan Johansson told SVT that Brits living in the country should be given reassurance that they will be able to live in Sweden despite the decision on Brexit.

So far, no details are out about the proposal. However, many believe that the new regulations will give Brits who currently have a permanent right of residence a permanent residence permit. Meanwhile, EU citizens can get permanent right of residence if they have been staying in a country for five years.

British citizens who have stayed in Sweden for a short period of time but meet the requirements for right of residence can receive a five-year residence permit. The new policy should help them stay in the country without having to fly back to the UK regularly.

Currently, there are 20,000 Brits in Sweden without Swedish citizenship.

Sweden has been working on policies to help British nationals in the country in case a no-Brexit deal occurs. Earlier, they have guaranteed a one-year ‘grace period’ so that Brits in the country can retain their rights to live, work and receive healthcare without a residence permit. However, they did not mention what will happen after the grace period is over.

Should the proposal passes through, it will be active starting January 1.

Sweden Tips

For those who wish to visit the country, check out the site Visit Sweden to sort out your trip.

For those who wish to live in the country, we have a guide on where to stay in Stockholm, how much the cost of living is and how much the salary is in the country. Foreigners can also check out the Swedish government site for work permit requirements . The Swedish Migration Agency has all the info you may need for residency permits.

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On Wednesday, the British Home office said that EU residents can get a UK residence permit before Brexit. This offer is open if they want to stay in the country even if a no-deal Brexit happens.

The UK Residence Permit Proposal

The measure will cover all EU nationals included in the European Economic Area living in the UK. This will also cover citizens from Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

According to the statement from the Home Office, they said: “Citizens of these states settling in the UK after we leave the EU and until the end of 2020 will be able to obtain temporary immigration status for a period of three years.”

The measure will also serve as a guarantee for British companies. They will be able to keep their current European staff and recruit without problems after Brexit. They said that permit applications are available online.

EU nationals currently visiting in the UK for a short time will not be a part of the measure.

More than one million EU nationals got their residence permits to stay in the UK even after Brexit since August.

This is not the only initiative the British government has to protect the rights of EU nationals currently in the UK. In August, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that a new visa program will be launched to attract the “best minds” to work in the country. The program also safeguards UK’s status as one of the best scientific nations after Brexit.

He also guarantees the rights of EU nationals currently living in the UK even after Brexit.

When is the UK leaving the EU?

A final date to the departure of the UK from the European Union is not yet available. The British Parliament is scheduled to finalize the divorce deal by October 19. However, if no deal happens on October 19, it is possible that the UK will seek an extension to get a favorable deal from the EU.

Since he became Prime Minister, Johnson vowed that the country will be out of the EU by October 31 with “no ifs and buts.”

The date Johnson gave is also in Interior Minister Priti Patel’s statement about the issue. He said that October 31 will be the “end of freedom of movement in its current form” and help the UK retake control over its borders.

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