
ETA’s Hit Cross-Border Tourism
“Island of Ireland” tourism faces disruption following a change in UK immigration requirements which took effect this month.
Initially they impact non-Europeans, but they are being rolled out to include all travellers, apart from residents of the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland's €1.5 billion a year tourism industry, which supports almost 6,000 businesses employing 70,000 people, is grappling with its potential implications.
From the beginning of January, international tourists landing in Dublin and planning to visit northern attractions such as the Giants' Causeway in Co Antrim or the Titanic Exhibition in Belfast will have to complete an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at a cost of £10.
The British Government says that the system will help it monitor movements into the UK. It runs in parallel with the Common Travel Area, which provides for unfettered travel between the two islands.
Irish citizens, or third country nationals who don't need a visa for UK travel and who can prove they are permanently resident in Ireland, will not be affected and will not need an ETA to cross the border or to go to Britain.
But it will impact on tourists who will be required to fill in a questionnaire, provide a photo, contact and passport details, and pay the fee. The process will take an estimated three days.
There is concern that the added complexity of applying for the ETA may dissuade some from making the trip. Surveys of potential tourists have shown one in four from Europe and one in five Americans say it would put them off travelling.
However, it is expected that there will be no physical checks at the border or on public transport.