Home Office Urged To Rethink ETA Scheme Impact On Tourism

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has renewed her appeal to the Home Office to reconsider the implementation of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, warning of its damaging effects on Northern Ireland's tourism sector.

The Minister's comments followed a meeting with the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA) to discuss growing concerns surrounding the British government's ETA scheme.

"Deepening concerns relating to the ETA Scheme have been continually raised with me by our local tourism industry," Dr Archibald stated. "Over the last few weeks, I have met with tour operators in both Berlin and the US who also expressed their concerns to me."

She highlighted the increasing anxiety within the industry as the scheme's rollout continues, with EU nationals set to require an ETA from 2 April 2025. This concern is further compounded by the recent announcement that the cost of an ETA will rise to £16 from 9 April 2025.

Minister Archibald has written to Seema Malhotra MP, the Home Office Minister for Migration and Citizenship, urging her to bring forward proposed options for an exemption to the scheme.

"The concerns being raised around the introduction of the ETA scheme are in response to tangible evidence coming forward that the Scheme is starting to have a definitive and negative impact on our tourism industry," the Minister explained. "I have been advised by representative bodies such as NITA and the Incoming Tour Operators Association for Ireland that the industry is seeing an increasing number of cancellations from tour groups and individual travellers to the north due to the ETA." A further issue highlighted by the Minister concerns European visitors who typically travel using a National Identity card. She explained, "Large numbers of European tourists travel to Ireland on a National Identity card, and the additional and significant cost and bureaucracy of needing a valid passport to apply for an ETA will deter these groups of tourists from travelling to the north. They will instead plan their itineraries only around the south where they can still travel with their National Identity card."

Dr Archibald also pointed out that tourists travelling on an ID card who wish to cross the border into Northern Ireland would be unable to do so due to the requirement for the ETA to be linked to a valid passport, effectively eliminating the option to visit the north.

Concluding her remarks, the Minister said, "I have requested a further meeting with Minister Malhotra, alongside local industry representatives, to discuss solutions to this deepening issue that would protect the tourism industry here."

Dr Joanne Stuart OBE, CEO of NITA, echoed the Minister's concerns, stating, "The introduction of the ETA scheme is already having a clear and detrimental impact on our tourism sector, with tour operators reporting significant cancellations and Northern Ireland being removed from itineraries. The requirement for European visitors to hold a passport in order to apply for an ETA is a major barrier, particularly for key demographics such as younger travellers and older tourists who often don’t have a passport and travel using EU identity cards."

Dr Stuart urged the Home Office to reconsider their position and implement a "practical exemption that allows for seamless cross-border travel, ensuring Northern Ireland remains an attractive destination for international visitors."