The United Kingdom (UK) Labour Government has put several Home Office policies under review.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, this includes the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for Northern Ireland visitors.
The UK ETA scheme would require travelers who can visit the UK without a visa to get a digital travel permit before their trip.
This includes tourists from the Republic of Ireland crossing the border to visit Northern Ireland.
Many industry officials have voiced concern that this could hurt Northern Ireland’s tourism economy.
The new Labour Government in the UK is aware of these concerns and is reviewing the ETA rule and other policies.
Seema Malhotra, a Labour parliamentary undersecretary at the Home Office, confirmed it with Claire Hanna, a Minister for Parliament (MP) for Belfast South and Mid Down.
This review has been welcomed by many people in Northern Ireland, especially those who work in tourism.
The UK ETA and Northern Ireland
The ETA aims to strengthen the UK’s borders. It allows the government to pre-screen and accurately log who enters and leaves the country.
The ETA costs £10 per application and allows multiple short visits to the UK of up to six months over a two-year period.
The UK introduced the scheme for Qatar nationals in 2023 and expanded it to nationals of other Gulf countries in February 2024.
The government plans to implement the ETA scheme for all travelers who can visit the UK without a visa by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
This includes citizens of European Union (EU) countries except Ireland, the United States (US), and other non-visa countries.
It means that tourists coming from Ireland who do not need a visa to enter the UK would need to apply for and pay for an ETA.
This is regardless of whether they are crossing the land border into Northern Ireland and visiting briefly.
Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy, which is responsible for helping businesses grow, has raised concerns about the ETA.
Economy Minister Conor Murphy described the ETA scheme as a “real risk to the huge growth potential” of Northern Ireland’s tourism industry.
He has asked for an urgent meeting with Malhotra to discuss the issue.
The goal is to find a solution that protects Northern Ireland’s economy while keeping the UK’s borders secure.
Why the ETA for Northern Ireland is a threat to its tourism industry
Tourism is a big part of Northern Ireland’s economy and has continuously grown since and even before the pandemic.
Many tourists who visit Northern Ireland arrive through Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland.
Under the ETA scheme, tourists must apply and pay for an ETA before crossing the open land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
This added requirement and its additional cost could potentially deter tourists from visiting Northern Ireland.
It would mean fewer visitors to Northern Ireland and less money spent at local businesses like hotels, restaurants, and shops.
Belfast South and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna has spoken out strongly against the ETA rule.
She said it was “not well thought of” as it could significantly harm Northern Ireland’s tourism.
“This unnecessary red tape would have left many visitors deciding that traveling to Northern Ireland was simply not worth the hassle,” Hanna said.
She added, “This had the potential to cost our economy millions a year with knock-on effects for businesses and staff.”
Local businesses, such as hotels, tour operators, and other companies that rely on tourists, are also worried that the ETA will result in fewer customers.
For many of these businesses, the summer tourist season is crucial, and they rely on visitors to keep their doors open.
What might happen next?
Since the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland is open, there are no routine immigration checks on those crossing it.
As such, tourists may unknowingly breach immigration laws if they cross the border without an ETA.
Tourism industry representatives proposed that only tourists planning to stay in Northern Ireland for over a week should require an ETA.
This would make it easier for short-term visitors to come and go without extra hassle or cost.
However, the Home Office has rejected this suggestion, saying it could create an “unacceptable gap” in the UK’s border security.
Previous Conservative Home Office officials had also admitted that enforcing the ETA in Northern Ireland is a challenge.
An ex-UK Border Force chief also pointed this out as a potential loophole during a Parliament committee inquiry.
As the UK government continues to review the ETA for Northern Ireland, many hope that a better solution can be found.
Hopefully, that solution will allow the UK to continue to secure the country’s borders while supporting the growing Northern Ireland tourism economy.