The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has voiced strong opposition to the UK Home Office’s proposal to raise the cost of Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) by 60%, bringing the fee to GBP 16.
“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% to reach 50 million annually by 2030 in pursuit of tourism’s economic benefits. Gouging these travelers with a 60% increase in the ETA is a very bad start,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said.
Walsh noted that the added cost would come on top of the Air Passenger Duty (APD)—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 ETAs will be of 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,” Walsh added.
Currently, UK aviation and tourism support 1.6 million jobs and contribute USD160.7 billion to the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP).
