IoH NI Round Table considers impact of NI visitor travel form

With the UK government’s announcement that an ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) form’ will soon be required by all non-UK visitors arriving in Northern Ireland (NI), with some exceptions, the IoH held a round table discussion at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast to assess how the latest changes would impact NI tourism and hospitality.

The launch of the new ETA requirement, which is planned for roll-out later this year, remains subject to change and the final legislation is yet to be published.

With local IoH NI members and NI industry representatives, Simon Moody MIH, General Manager at Bedford Street Developments Limited Robert McKenna, Placement Coordinator & Lecturer, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Ulster University, Adrian McNally MIH, General Manager at Titanic Hotel Belfast, IoH Head of Events Sarah Peters FIH, IoH Head of Professional Development Sam Coulstock FIH, and IoH NI regional member and Vice President of Sales at Hastings Hotel Group Eoin McGrath FIH, concerned about the forthcoming changes, the round table discussion considered the UK Government’s latest written position on the matter from The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, UK Minister of State for Immigration. He stated: “We have consulted with the tourism and travel sectors in Northern Ireland, including the Northern Ireland Tourism Association (NITA). I have carefully considered requests to exempt tourists from the ETA requirement including a proposed limited period of 5-7 days. However, I am unable to agree to such an exemption. Ultimately, an exemption of this kind would undermine the rationale for introducing an ETA scheme and the opportunity the scheme provides to secure the Common Travel Area* further. Therefore, those visiting the UK, including those crossing the land border into Northern Ireland, will be required to obtain an ETA when it is introduced.”

Currently, arrivals into the Republic of Ireland (ROI), do not require an ETA. In future, this change will add an extra burden for those arriving in the ROI who wish to cross the border and travel to NI as part of their travel itinerary.

One observation by the attendees was that Ireland is marketed as an ‘all-island tourist destination,’ which may cause confusion, worry and reluctance among travellers. Plus it was noted that visitors arriving at Dublin or Shannon Airports in the ROI will not be required to provide any proof of itinerary while in Ireland before boarding their flight. Raising the concern: Why is this ETA being introduced if there are no formal checks?

Eoin McGrath FIH, IoH NI regional member and Vice President of Sales at Hastings Hotel Group said: “An ETA, will require an additional process for international visitors arriving into the UK from outside the Common Travel Area*.  This impacts 70% of visitors arriving in Ireland, including NI and is a real concern for NI hospitality and tourism at a time when our international appeal is going from strength to strength.”

Eimear Kearney,  Head of Sales & Marketing at the Titanic Belfast said: “Titanic Belfast is extremely disappointed that the UK Government have not granted an ETA duration exemption for tourists travelling to NI via the ROI. Titanic Belfast recently invested £4.5 million into its experience to further drive visitors to Belfast and Northern Ireland and to give the attraction and destination an international standout. The lack of an ETA duration exemption will hinder this ambition to attract international visitors to NI and negatively impact the broader tourism ecosystem.”

A significant proportion of Titanic Belfast’s international visitors travel through Dublin airport and the need for an ETA for these visitors to travel to Northern Ireland is an unwelcomed obstacle for attracting visitors to the destination.

In its first ten years of operation, Titanic Belfast contributed £430 million in additional visitors spent to the NI economy and inspired £60 million of broader heritage preservation across the Titanic Quarter.

It is also clear that the lack of clarity around the process, associated costs and communications is causing concern within the tourism industry following significant investment in NI.

The impact of this latest initiative will be felt across ROI and NI and has the potential to damage the hospitality & tourism visitors to NI from ROI who just want to visit for a few days. With the administration and costs involved potentially damaging the industry that has been hard hit in the past few years, the other significant concern by those who attended is how will it all be enforced.

What is the Common Travel Area (CTA)

*The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a long-standing arrangement between the UK, the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and Ireland that pre-dates both British and Irish membership of the EU and is not dependent on it.

Under the CTA, British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections, as well as to access social welfare benefits and health services.

The UK and Irish governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2019 reaffirming our commitment to maintain the CTA, and the associated rights and privileges, in all circumstances. On signing the MoU, both governments released a Joint Statement.

Read the full letter from the UK’s Minister of State for Immigration here