The potential European holiday destinations for diehard British puffers looking to escape the smoking ban — if only for a few days — are dwindling in number.
France, that one-time smoker’s paradise, is now off limits. So too are Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia and most of Germany. And from July 1 we can also forget about lighting up in most enclosed public places in The Netherlands.
But some smoky oases remain. In Belgium smoking is still allowed in bars and cafés. Indeed, it is home to several specialist smokers’ clubs — including the Tabaco in Hasselt, which holds regular get-togethers for female cigar smokers.
Spain, too, remains smoker-friendly, while soccer-loving smokers planning a trip to Euro 2008 are also in luck: the tournament is being held in two of the least tobaccophobic countries in the continent. In Switzerland only the canton of Ticino has thus far imposed a ban, while Austria boasts the highest level of public opposition to a smoking ban in the European Union.
But ”smoking tourism”, though in its infancy, is a sector of the industry that seems certain to grow. In Germany entrepreneur Alexander Schoppmann plans ”Smokers’ International Airways” for those who miss their on-flight nicotine fix. One of the biggest travel agencies in Japan offers European tours specially designed for smokers. Estonia, meanwhile, offers short breaks for cigar smokers to enjoy their hobby in the comfort of the cigar lounges of Tallinn.
Forget tax havens: smoke havens could be the next big thing. —