The Home Office has proposed increasing visitors' electronic travel authorisation fees by £6 (from £10 to £16) in the name of a "more efficient immigration system" and to reduce the taxpayer burden: how have travel's leading voices reacted?
Julia Lo Bue-Said, the CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said of the proposal, "At a time when the economy needs to focus on growth and the government has talked up its ambition for the travel and tourism industry, it's incredibly disappointing to see the government has increased the cost of the new ETA fee by 60% even before it's fully launched.
"Charging international travellers to visit the UK is just another economic policy which will also directly impact the UK outbound travel sector and will only serve as a further blow to consumers. Without a thriving inbound sector, you cannot have a thriving outbound industry. The government should be looking to encourage and harness growth, capitalising on the desire to travel to help our economy prosper by creating jobs and boosting destinations."
ABTA's director of public affairs, Luke Petherbridge, welcomed the removal of the fee for visitors in transit to the UK, but seemed equally disappointed by the ETA cost hike. "We welcome the removal of the ETA requirement for passengers in transit in the UK as this should help ensure the continuing viability of important air links.
"However, the 60% uplift in visa cost brings another tax rise to the travel and tourism sector, which risks stifling growth. Coming on the back of increases announced for Air Passenger Duty in the recent budget, we are seeing a layering of additional charges in a sector which has been forecast to grow strongly. Travel and tourism should be taxed fairly; excessive increases run the risk of suppressing demand and holding back a thriving industry."
Joss Croft OBE, UKinbound's chief executive, said the change is "a staggering blow to the UK's tourism industry and businesses across the country.
"This change comes at the worst time, just as ETA requirements for all non-visa national visitors are rolled out from the 2 April. There is a false assumption that international visitors will continue to choose the UK, even if we hike up prices.
"International tourism is a competitive industry and the two key motivators to visit a destination are value for money and the quality of welcome, and this move damages our standing on both fronts."
