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travel
news review
![](/file/14186/www_07_1999.iso/inne/lonelyplanet/scoop/graphics/line.jpg)
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.
15
February '99
Finding a clean beach in the United Kingdom is not as easy as it used
to be according to a recently released report from the Tidy Britain Group.
The group surveyed 153 beaches in England, Scotland and Wales, compared
the results with an earlier 1996 survey, and announced an overall decline
in beach cleanliness. England's north-eastern beaches, the midlands east
coast beaches and a number of beaches in Wales fared the worst in the
survey, which looked at issues such as beach litter, toilet facilities,
dog control and water safety. If you want a day at the beach, head for
the beaches at Barmouth, Cromer, Herne Bay, Poole or Shanklin. Give the
beaches at Aberdeen, Hembsy, Largs and Prestwick a miss.
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