The UK House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has urged the government to exempt customers of approved tour operators from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Lawmakers say the £20 fee per person and the paperwork may discourage operators from including Northern Ireland in their itineraries, even though it is easy to reach from Dublin.

In a survey by ITOA Ireland, 65% of members said the ETA requirement had affected their business to some extent, and a further 10% reported a significant impact. To prevent abuse, the Home Office could revoke an operator’s approved status. For now, this is only a recommendation: the criteria have not been set, and the government has not made a decision. The committee expects a response within two months.

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