The potential introduction of new immigration arrangements for holidaymakers travelling from the UK to the EU following Brexit is one of the major concerns for the industry.

But Philip Torbol, a partner at law firm K&L Gates Brussels, told the Abta Travel Law Seminar this week: “Tourism is an area where nobody has any interest in making life difficult for each other.

“In general, we don’t expect that this is going to be an area where tourists are going to be held hostage in a difficult negotiation.

“There will be some issues for providers but for distributors there will be very little disruption.”

Torbol admitted that aviation was going to be the “most sensitive” issue when it comes to travel, because the UK was unlikely to remain in the European Common Aviation Area, as this requires staying in the EU’s Single Market.

“If there is no agreement by March 2019 without any transitional agreement, then UK airlines will be grounded – or at least not flying to the EU – but that’s not going to happen,” he added.

Abta’s director of public affairs Alan Wardle said he was more “cautious” that there would be no disruption for holidaymakers following Brexit.

“We should not be complacent and we need to remind politicians about the impact of what could happen,” he said.

“We need to ensure that consumers can continue to travel as freely as they have been doing.”