Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the impact on Welsh tourism of the introduction of electronic travel authorisation passes for travel between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The UK Government is committed to strengthening the security of the UK border by ensuring that everyone wishing to travel to the UK (except British and Irish citizens) has permission to do so in advance of travel.

People travel to the UK, including Wales, for a whole host of reasons and while the cost or requirement to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance of travel may be a consideration, the experience of other countries with similar schemes shows it is very unlikely to deter a genuine visitor. Obtaining an ETA is likely to incur a very small additional cost for travellers relative to the cost of travel and the benefits of visiting the UK, including Wales; therefore, it is unlikely to deter the majority of visitors. Moreover, the process for obtaining an ETA will be quick and light touch.

Many of the UK’s international partners have taken a similar approach to border security, including the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, meaning it is a familiar concept for travellers.