logo
NI tourism sector split on impact of new travel permit

NI tourism sector split on impact of new travel permit

BBC News02-04-2025

Despite warnings, the expansion of a UK travel permit scheme to EU visitors is not impacting tourism to Northern Ireland according to some businesses in the sector.As of Tuesday, visitors from the EU will join those from the rest of the word in needing an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK.The head of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance has said this amounts to a barrier for tourists who have come to the Republic of Ireland and may wish to visit Northern Ireland.However, a hotel group and a tour company have both told the BBC they have not seen an impact to their business.
Colin Johnston managing director of the Galgorm Collection said that while the sector had campaigned against the ETA, once it was explained to visitors "it lands fine and they understand it".Speaking on the BBC's Talkback programme he said some guests had been spooked by the "substantial negativity in our media" about the ETA, adding that "we're maybe doing more damage to ourselves by continuing to talk about it".Heather Rennie McGill from the tour company Rabbie's said it is an issue of "communication and how we make it easy for customers to do the legal stuff they need to to enter the country".She said that when the ETA was first introduced in 2023 for visitors travelling to the UK from outside the EU there was an impact "on the level of service or customer care that we had to do but I didn't see it impact our bookings."However, she said that the system was causing anxiety for some customers and was an unwelcome extra cost.The UK Government has said that the ETA will help prevent abuse of the immigration system.
'Deeply concerned'
Joanne Stuart, the head of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance has said that Northern Ireland is being removed from the itineraries of tourism trips for a number of companies to the island of Ireland due to the expansion of the scheme."We are promoted as part of the island of Ireland and that's always been based very much on seamless travel."She told the BBC that 69% of holidaymakers spending time in Northern Ireland come through the Republic."We've put this barrier in the way... and we're starting to see the impact of that."Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said she was "deeply concerned about the impact of the introduction of the ETA scheme and what it will mean for our tourism sector".Archibald said she had engaged with the UK Government as recently as last week on the issue and repeated calls for Northern Ireland to be exempt from the scheme.Previous calls for an exemption for Northern Ireland were rejected by the last UK Government, who said said it would result in "an unacceptable gap" in UK border security.
What is an ETA and how do you get one?
The ETA is a permit which non-British and non-Irish citizens, who do not require a visa, will generally need to enter the UK.That will include international visitors who arrive in Dublin and then plan to travel to Northern Ireland.It currently costs £10 to apply using the UK ETA app or online through GOV.UK, however, this fee will go up to £16 on 9 April.According to the government website, those who apply for an ETA will usually get a decision within 3 working days, although they claim many could "get a much quicker decision".The travel journalist Lisa Minot told BBC News NI that for most people it "should be a matter of minutes".An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires and you can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Starmer and Reynolds meet US commerce secretary in push to implement trade deal
Starmer and Reynolds meet US commerce secretary in push to implement trade deal

Western Telegraph

time39 minutes ago

  • Western Telegraph

Starmer and Reynolds meet US commerce secretary in push to implement trade deal

The Prime Minister dropped in on a meeting between Howard Lutnick and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in Downing Street on Tuesday. Mr Lutnick was in London for talks with China on resolving the trade war between Washington and Beijing, and Mr Reynolds took the opportunity to meet him in person to push for the UK-US trade deal announced last month to be implemented as soon as possible. The meeting follows talks between the Business Secretary and US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Paris last week. Under the terms of the agreement announced by Sir Keir and Donald Trump, the US will implement import quotas that will effectively eliminate tariffs on British steel and cut the levy on vehicles to 10%. But the deal has yet to be implemented and tariffs on both steel and cars remain at 25%, although the UK has been spared the increase on steel duties to 50% that Mr Trump imposed on the rest of the world last week. In a post on social media, Mr Reynolds said he had discussed 'progress on our trade deal – including UK autos and steel' with Mr Lutnick. UK officials remain hopeful that the deal will be implemented soon, but Tuesday's meeting does not appear to have moved the issue beyond both sides agreeing the need to move quickly. Speaking in the Commons last week, Sir Keir said he was 'very confident' that tariffs would come down in line with the deal 'within a very short time'. Implementing the deal will require the UK to pass legislation, likely to involve regulations rather than a full Act of Parliament, while the US will also need to create a legal mechanism to bring steel and vehicle quotas into effect.

Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal' as she unveils spending plans
Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal' as she unveils spending plans

North Wales Chronicle

time40 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal' as she unveils spending plans

The Chancellor is expected to announce big increases in spending on the NHS, defence and schools as part of a spending review set to include £113 billion of investment thanks to looser borrowing rules. She will also reveal changes to the Treasury's 'green book' rules that govern which projects receive investment in an effort to boost spending outside London and the South East. Arguing that this investment is 'possible only because of the stability I have introduced' after the October budget, Ms Reeves is expected to say her spending review will 'ensure that renewal is felt in people's everyday lives, their jobs, their communities'. She will say: 'The priorities in this spending review are the priorities of working people. 'To invest in our country's security, health and economy so working people all over our country are better off.' Among the other announcements expected at the spending review is £39 billion for affordable homes over the next 10 years as the Government seeks to meet its promise of building 1.5 million homes by the next election. The Treasury said this would see annual investment in affordable housing rise to £4 billion by 2029/30, almost double the average of £2.3 billion between 2021 and 2026. A Government source said: 'We're turning the tide against the unacceptable housing crisis in this country with the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation, delivering on our plan for change commitment to get Britain building.' The Chancellor has also already announced some £15.6 billion of spending on public transport in England's city regions, and £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, the bulk of which will fund the new Sizewell C plant in Suffolk. But the spending review is expected to set out tough spending limits for departments other than health, defence and education. Although Ms Reeves is reported to have agreed to an above-inflation increase in the policing budget, this is thought to have come at the expense of cuts in other parts of Home Office spending. And sources close to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have expressed concern that the spending review will have nothing for the capital. Ahead of the spending review, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that any increase in NHS funding above 2.5% is likely to mean real-terms cuts for other departments or further tax rises to come in the budget this autumn. The Chancellor has already insisted that her fiscal rules remain in place, along with Labour's manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT. She will say on Wednesday: 'I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal. 'These are my choices. These are this Government's choices. These are the British people's choices.'

Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal' as she unveils spending plans
Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal' as she unveils spending plans

South Wales Argus

timean hour ago

  • South Wales Argus

Reeves to promise investment in ‘renewal' as she unveils spending plans

The Chancellor is expected to announce big increases in spending on the NHS, defence and schools as part of a spending review set to include £113 billion of investment thanks to looser borrowing rules. She will also reveal changes to the Treasury's 'green book' rules that govern which projects receive investment in an effort to boost spending outside London and the South East. Arguing that this investment is 'possible only because of the stability I have introduced' after the October budget, Ms Reeves is expected to say her spending review will 'ensure that renewal is felt in people's everyday lives, their jobs, their communities'. She will say: 'The priorities in this spending review are the priorities of working people. 'To invest in our country's security, health and economy so working people all over our country are better off.' Among the other announcements expected at the spending review is £39 billion for affordable homes over the next 10 years as the Government seeks to meet its promise of building 1.5 million homes by the next election. The Treasury said this would see annual investment in affordable housing rise to £4 billion by 2029/30, almost double the average of £2.3 billion between 2021 and 2026. A Government source said: 'We're turning the tide against the unacceptable housing crisis in this country with the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation, delivering on our plan for change commitment to get Britain building.' The Chancellor has also already announced some £15.6 billion of spending on public transport in England's city regions, and £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, the bulk of which will fund the new Sizewell C plant in Suffolk. But the spending review is expected to set out tough spending limits for departments other than health, defence and education. Although Ms Reeves is reported to have agreed to an above-inflation increase in the policing budget, this is thought to have come at the expense of cuts in other parts of Home Office spending. And sources close to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have expressed concern that the spending review will have nothing for the capital. Ahead of the spending review, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that any increase in NHS funding above 2.5% is likely to mean real-terms cuts for other departments or further tax rises to come in the budget this autumn. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her spending review (PA) The Chancellor has already insisted that her fiscal rules remain in place, along with Labour's manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT. She will say on Wednesday: 'I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal. 'These are my choices. These are this Government's choices. These are the British people's choices.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store