Northern Ireland’s economy minister, Conor Murphy, has warned that the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme could severely impact tourism. Starting this week, visitors from 48 additional countries must apply for an ETA, costing £10 per person, before entering the UK. The digital permit, linked to passports, is valid for two years and allows multiple stays of up to six months. Murphy is lobbying Westminster to exempt Northern Ireland from the scheme, emphasising that 70% of international tourists arrive via the Republic of Ireland and could be discouraged by this added cost and process. He suggested a seven-day exemption for short-term visitors, highlighting tourism’s significant contribution to the Northern Ireland economy in 2023 and its importance as a peace process success story. Tour operators and tourism bodies voiced concerns that the added expense could deter visitors from visiting iconic destinations like the Giant’s Causeway. The Government, defending the ETA as a streamlined, secure system, has pledged to work with the tourism industry to address concerns.