Tourism Sector faces setback over new UK Travel Scheme

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has voiced serious concerns about the potential fallout for Northern Ireland’s tourism sector as a result of the UK government’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) policy.

Speaking to MLAs on Tuesday, Archibald said she feared the scheme could deter international visitors from travelling north after arriving in the Republic of Ireland, a route taken by the majority of overseas tourists to Northern Ireland.

The ETA, a digital travel clearance required for short-term visits to the UK, was introduced in 2023 for non-European travellers. Starting April 2025, it will extend to include non-Irish EU nationals. Although the system is not a visa, it is a mandatory pre-clearance linked to a visitor’s passport, allowing multiple entries for stays of up to six months over a two-year period—or until the passport expires.

British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA due to the Common Travel Area arrangement. Additionally, foreign residents of Ireland who don’t require a visa for UK travel—such as EU and U.S. citizens—are not required to obtain an ETA when entering Northern Ireland from within the island.

However, the requirement for tourists entering the UK from the Republic has sparked industry warnings. Tourism providers highlight that around 70% of international visitors to Northern Ireland first arrive through Dublin before making their way across the border.

Despite repeated calls from stakeholders for temporary exemptions for such travellers, the UK government has maintained that doing so would create a security loophole.

Archibald confirmed she has been in contact with the UK government to advocate for a solution and is continuing discussions with Tourism Ireland to assess the potential economic consequences. “The implications for our tourism industry are significant,” she told the Assembly. “We need to fully understand what that means going forward.”

The cost of the ETA is currently £10 but is set to rise to £16 from April 9.