Minister warns of deepening concerns on the impact on tourism from Home Office travel scheme
Date published:
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has again pressed the Home Office to reconsider their implementation of a new scheme which is already having a damaging impact on the local tourism sector.
The Minister was speaking after a meeting with the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA) to discuss concerns about the introduction of the British Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme.
She said:
“Deepening concerns relating to the ETA Scheme have been continually raised with me by our local tourism industry. Over the last few weeks, I have met with tour operators in both Berlin and the US who also expressed their concerns to me.
“Indeed, as the Scheme continues to be rolled out and with EU nationals due to require an ETA from 2 April 2025, the concerns of the industry are, if anything, increasing. This will only be compounded by the recent confirmation that the cost for an ETA will increase to £16 from 9 April 2025.”
Minister Archibald has written to Seema Malhotra MP, Home Office Minister for Migration and Citizenship to urge, once again, that proposed options for an exemption, are brought forward. The Minister said:
“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.
“I have been advised by representative bodies such as NITA and the Inbound 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.”
The Minister also highlighted a further issue has arisen regarding European visitors travelling on 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.
“It will also be the case that any tourist travelling on an ID card and whom would wish to travel across the border would not be able to do so because of the need for the ETA to be linked to a valid passport. The option to travel north would be lost.”
The Minister concluded:
“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 NITA said:
“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.
“We urge the Home Office to reconsider our call for a practical exemption that allows for seamless cross-border travel, ensuring Northern Ireland remains an attractive destination for international visitors.”
Notes to editors:
- In 2023, the previous UK Government introduced a new permission to travel scheme – the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. It is a requirement (currently at a cost of £10 per person, increasing to £16 from 9 April 2025) for all non-visa national visitors to the UK.
- For visitors coming here, the requirement to obtain and hold an ETA will apply whether they arrive direct at a UK port of entry (Airport/Ferry Terminal) or via the land border with the south.
- 67% of overseas holidaymakers (outside of Britain and Ireland) arrive via the south of Ireland.
- From 8 January 2025, all non-European travellers were required to obtain an ETA for entry into the UK. Eligible European visitors will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2 April 2025.UK and Irish citizens and permanent Irish residents will not require an ETA.
- Former Economy Minister Conor Murphy met with Seema Malhotra MP, Home Office Minister for Migration and Citizenship last year to outline his concerns. Following this meeting, he provided additional evidence of the anticipated impacts of the ETA scheme on our tourism economy and to seek a solution.
- Minister Murphy put forward a preferred option for a complete exemption being introduced for those crossing into Northern Ireland but not travelling on to Britain or, alternatively, a time-limited exemption, for people visiting up to 7 days. This would cover most of our international visitors.
- Key findings from recent Tourism Ireland Sentiment Research across international markets found that due to the introduction of the ETA requirements 1 in 4 people in Europe, and 1 in 5 people in North America say they would make the decision not to travel. A European Tourism Association survey conducted in January 2025 has found that 21% of businesses have cancelled or will cancel some or all visits to the north.
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