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travel
news review
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9
March '99
While duty free shopping is officially scheduled to end in the member
countries of the European Union (EU) on 1 July, 1999, many countries are
hopeful duty-free shopping can be extended for another couple of years.
Of the 15 member countries in the EU, Germany, France and Britain are
the main campaigners for an extension for duty-free shopping. It is estimated
that if duty-free shopping goes, more than 140,000 jobs would also go.
When the end of duty-free sales in EU countries eventually does come into
place, travellers to Europe will still be able to obtain duty free items,
as the new restrictions will only apply to intra-EU travel. As an example,
if you travel between Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, and
France, duty-free purchases will still be possible. Current member countries
of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the
United Kingdom.
16
February '99
Edinburgh is planning to open a number of tourist attractions this year.
The new Museum of Scotland has recently opened and the new multi-media
Dynamic Earth, featuring all things relating to the geography and environment
of Scotland, opens in May. A new gallery, situated next to the existing
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, housing the works of Eduardo
Paolozzi and other modern Scottish artists, will also open later this
year. If you are planning to be in Edinburgh for Hogmanay 1999/2000, start
looking for a place to stay pronto as it's already hard to find a bed.
The top Caledonian hotel, it is rumoured, is asking (10,000 for it very
best suite on the night.
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