MPs told cross-border visa scheme could cost £160m in visitor spend

Up to £160m of visitor spend could be lost if plans for a US-style visa waiver document for journeys across the border go ahead,  MPs have been told.

The  Nationalities and Borders Bill proposals would mean EU citizens who are not Irish will have to apply online for pre-travel clearance to cross the border.

Dr Joanne Stuart from the NI Tourism Alliance told MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee there had been “no consultation at all with the industry” on the plans and that the single-entry system “would just be unworkable and completely impractical”.

Under new post-Brexit immigration and border control legislation going through Westminster, non-Irish EU citizens living in or visiting the Republic of Ireland would require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to cross the border into Northern Ireland.

The visa-waiver style scheme, which would be similar to the one used in the US, would not apply to Irish or UK citizens, who are guaranteed free movement around the island under the terms of the long-standing common travel area (CTA) agreement.

Appearing alongside John McGrillen from Tourism NI and Shane Clarke from Tourism Ireland, Dr Stewart proposed an exemption on the plan.

“We haven’t had any engagement. I have raised a number of questions seeking clarification,” she said.

“People want to have hassle free travel. Anything that is perceived to be an additional obstacle or barrier to carrying out your trip will… [they will] decide to stay within the Republic of Ireland.

“We reckon that about £160m of visitor spend is at risk. About half a million visitors we think this could impact on.

“What we are suggesting is there is an exemption on those people who arrive to the island of Ireland in the Republic of Ireland and then travel across the land border into Northern Ireland. So they don’t require the ETA because their trip is within the island of Ireland.”

‘Hassle-free travel’

John McGrillen told the committee the plans could see tour operators in the south would stop trying to sell packages in Northern Ireland.

He said: “The fact this ambiguity exists, or this level of explanation is required, will make it much easier for that agent to simply say: ‘I don’t need to be bothered with this hassle it is much easier for me to sell a trip to Cork or Kerry’.

“It has taken us a long time… to build up the level of business we have got. Our fear would be if we don’t make this simple or easy to understand, there is the potential for that business to be lost again.”