Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said the deal, which was announced on Monday (19 May) after months of negotiations, would improve the travel experience for hundreds of thousands of people.

"The tedious wait in border control lines since Brexit has long been a source of irritation for many Brits travelling to the EU," she said. "Widening the availability of e-gates across Europe will be most welcome.

"This enhanced system should give holidaymakers the opportunity to benefit from a significantly faster, more convenient airport experience, helping them start their travel promptly without the usual hold-ups.”

Since Brexit, British holidaymakers have had to use a different queue at EU airports due to the UK’s status as a third country. However, under the new arrangement, they will be able to join the same e-gate queues as EU passport holders, a move the industry expects to reduce the time taken to clear borders.

Abta boss Mark Tanzer said the accord would ensure Europe’s premier destinations remain attractive to UK holidaymakers. "The agreements will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin,” he explained, albeit while acknowledging thte deal won’t reduce all post-Brexit border frictions.

UK travellers will still have to get their passports stamped, and once the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) goes live, they’ll have to submit to biometric checks – which include fingerprints and facial scanning – in lieu of passport stamping.

"There are, of course, more border changes coming down the line – including the [EES] planned for October 2025. It is vital we continue to see good cooperation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.”

The UK and EU have also come to agreement on a reciprocal arrangement to restore young people’s right to live and work abroad under a new "youth experience"  banner rather than "youth mobility".

It is understood the scheme, which was one of the bloc’s key stipulations in post-Brexit negotiations, will allow Britons aged between 18 and 30 to work in the EU for a set amount of time.

Reciprocal rights would be given to European citizens of the same age in a similar fashion to the bilateral agreements the UK has with countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

"We’ve long argued an agreement between the UK and EU would be mutually beneficial – and that these deals are not akin to freedom of movement in any way,” Tanzer added.

The agreement would be a significant boost for UK outbound travel companies, enabling them to once again deploy younger seasonal workers overseas, such as reps and chalet hosts.

Tui was quick to hail the inclusion. "A thoughtfully crafted youth experience scheme could open up hundreds of exciting seasonal overseas job opportunities with Tui for young Brits,” said UK and Ireland managing director Neil Swanson. “It’s a fantastic chance for those considering a career in tourism or looking to boost their employability.”

The scheme would also bring benefits for the UK’s domestic tourism and hospitality sectors.

Lauren Broughton, UKinbound’s head of public affairs, said access to young European talent and labour would allow businesses to harness their foreign language skills, while UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the agreement would remove trade barriers and increase “access to high-quality, affordable food and drink for business and consumers alike”.

“These schemes are beneficial for those already working in hospitality, tourism and other cultural sectors to live and work in either the UK or EU,” Nicholls added. “Not only does it provide economic benefits, but it also provides new opportunities for critical cultural exchange, which ultimately delivers richer experiences for customers."