How will the Borders Bill affect tourism in Northern Ireland? MPs to quiz experts and minister
14 April 2022
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will question tourism experts from NI and Ireland on the effect of the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill on tourism across the island of Ireland.
- Watch Parliament TV: Tourism and the Common Travel Area
- Non-inquiry session: Tourism and the Common Travel Area
- Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Background to the session
During the evidence session on Wednesday 20 April, the cross-party Committee will also question Kevin Foster MP, Under-Secretary of State for Immigration and Future Borders, on the impact of the Bill on both tourism and on day to day cross-border travel.
The draft bill contains measures to require non-British and non-Irish nationals to apply in advance for permission to travel to the UK via an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. The Government has not yet announced full details of the ETA such as how much it will cost, but there are concerns, highlighted by votes in the House of Lords, that the ETA could be a disproportionate response by the Government to concerns about issues such as people trafficking. Tourism NI has said the scheme could discourage international tourists who arrive in Ireland and wish to visit attractions north of the border too, such as the Mourne Mountains and Giant’s Causeway.
The Committee may also seek panellists’ views on the state of NI’s tourism industry following the pandemic, and how the sector could be helped to grow.
Witnesses
From 09.30am
- John McGrillen, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism NI
- Shane Clarke, Director of Corporate Services, Policy and Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland
- Dr Joanne Stuart OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance
From 10.30am (approx)
- Kevin Foster MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Immigration and Future Borders
Further information
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