Review into controversial travel scheme welcomed amid warnings over NI tourism impact

Due to come into force later this year, the latest expansion of the ETA scheme would require overseas visitors who are holidaying in the Republic to obtain a permit in advance if they want to visit Northern Ireland. The ETA scheme — described as a “new requirement for people who do not need a visa to come to the UK” — came into operation earlier this year for those from gulf states, such as Oman and Jordan.

It was announced in March 2023 by then immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who said at the time it would “enhance our border security by increasing our knowledge about those seeking to come to the UK and preventing the arrival of those who pose a threat.”

He added: “It will also improve travel for legitimate visitors.”

An ETA permit costs £10 and is valid for two years, unless the holder’s passport expires before that.

When it comes into force for those visiting NI, it won’t apply to those from the Republic, but all non-visa visitors coming here will have to have an ETA, whether they arrive directly via an airport or ferry, or via the land border with the Republic.

Given that more than 70% of international visitors coming to Northern Ireland arrive via Dublin, there have been serious concerns about the impact on our tourism industry, and that of the Republic, from the ETA scheme.

Last July the Government rejected calls to exempt some tourists visiting NI from the scheme.

It was proposed by tourism industry representatives that some international visitors would only be required to have an ETA permit if they planned to stay for more than a week.

Mr Jenrick shut down this suggestion, stating that such an exemption would result in an “unacceptable gap” in the UK’s border security.

SDLP MP for Belfast South and Mid Down, Claire Hanna, asked the Home Office of any plans it has to review the potential impact of the ETA scheme on the movement of people on the island of Ireland and the tourism industry.

Labour MP Seema Malhotra, a parliamentary under-secretary at the Home Office, said the Government is “reviewing a number of Home Office policies including this one”.

Ms Hanna welcomed the news of the review, branding the ETA an “ill-thought out Tory policy that would have hugely detrimental impacts on Northern Ireland’s tourism industry and made life difficult for people from outside these islands to travel across the border”.

“The majority of tourists visiting here arrive in Ireland at Dublin Airport and this unnecessary red tape would have left many visitors deciding that travelling to Northern Ireland was simply not worth the hassle,” she said.

“This had the potential to cost our economy millions a year with knock on effects for businesses and staff.”

The Department for the Economy said Minister Conor Murphy has made clear his concerns about the impact of the introduction of the ETA scheme on our tourism sector, branding it “a real risk to the huge growth potential” of the industry.

“The minister wrote to the previous British Minister for Legal Migration and the Border in April to express his concerns and has just written again to the new Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra MP seeking an urgent meeting on this matter,” they added.