UK Travel Permits for Visitors Threaten Northern Ireland’s tourism
UK travel permits for visitors threaten Northern Ireland’s tourism posing a danger to Northern Ireland’s tourism industry
The UK’s recent requirement that tourists register and pay a charge before beginning their journeys could discourage foreign visitors.
On January 8, the £10 (about $12) entry pass became required for non-European visitors.
The permits, known as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) have the potential to have a big effect on Northern Ireland.
Beginning in April, tourists from Europe will have to comply. Irish nationals,
however, are exempt from the requirement to acquire an ETA, so their travel plans will remain unaffected.
To guarantee approval in time for travel, give three days’ notice.
UK travel permits for visitors include the Republic of Ireland also include Northern Ireland.
According to Owens, the new permits ran the risk of “diminishing our global tourism appeal” and endangering an estimated £210 million (about $260 million) in yearly revenue.
According to recent research conducted in foreign markets, 1 in 4 people in Europe and 1 in 5 people in North America stated that the implementation of the ETA criteria has caused they would decide not to come. (Tourism Ireland surveyed outbound vacationers online in November to perform the study.)
In search of “Complete Exemption”
In a news release, Economy Minister Conor Murphy said he had discussed his concerns with Seema Malhotra
the UK’s Minister for Migration and Citizenship.
Murphy stated that “building on the growth we have seen in our tourism sector” required smooth all-island mobility.
“I have communicated to Minister Malhotra that the protection of the tourism industry in the north requires solutions to the ETA Scheme,” he stated.
Murphy proposed a temporary exception for visitors staying for up to seven days, which would cover the majority of foreign visitors to Northern Ireland.
“The current exception for school groups in France demonstrates that a solution is entirely feasible.
To prevent hurting the expansion of tourism in the north, the Home Office may adopt a similar and adaptable strategy.
Airports in Belfast may lose some of its passengers to those in the Republic of Ireland, where there are no fees.
A UK Home Office representative said the government was “committed to working closely” with stakeholders
to “mitigate against it being seen as a barrier to cross-border tourism in Ireland” in response to a request for comment.
Compiled by,
World Travel News, Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
