Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) opposes the UK Home Office's proposal to increase the costs of UK Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) by 60 percent to GBP 16. Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, commented as follows:
“Proposing to increase ETA costs just a week after the system was introduced is bewildering. If implemented it would be a self-inflicted blow to the UK’s tourism competitiveness. In November the government laid out plans to increase tourist arrivals by 30 percent to reach 50 million annually by 2030 in pursuit of tourism’s economic benefits. Gouging these travelers with a 60 percent increase in the ETA is a very bad start. The added cost would come on top of the Air Passenger Duty (ADP)—the biggest travel tax in the world—which itself will increase again in April. And let’s not forget that travelers have a choice and the EU’s ETIAS to visit Europe will be far better value—costing about a third as much as this proposed pricing and lasting a year longer.
It's time for the UK government to see the big picture. It has everything to gain by making the UK a more cost-competitive travel destination—including the substantial tax revenues that travelers generate. It makes no sense to discourage visitors with high costs even before they set foot in the country.”
UK aviation and tourism supports 1.6 million jobs currently, providing USD 160.7 billion to the UK’s GDP.
The UK has proposed a 60 percent increase to its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) cost, which is already in place for non-EU travelers but is set to be rolled out for all EU arrivals in April.
Introduced in late 2023, the ETA system currently applies to visitors from over 50 countries and will extend to European travelers on April 2nd, 2025.
Since January 8th it has been compulsory for all non-EU citizens arriving in the UK (exception of UK nationals). There is no exemption for non-EU nationals who live in an EU country - so for example Americans in France now need it for a weekend trip to London.
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