"European tourism leaders criticize increase in ETIAS cost"
European Travel Industry Criticises Proposed ETIAS Fee Hike
A group of European travel industry organisations have expressed concerns over the proposed increase in the ETIAS fee, which is set to rise from €7 to €20. The groups argue that the increase appears disproportionate and could potentially harm the continent's travel competitiveness.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is the second part of the EU's new border control measures and is expected to become operational in late 2026. It requires visa-exempt non-EU travellers to obtain an online authorization and pay a related fee before entering the 29-country EU/Schengen area.
The proposed fee hike is justified by the European Commission as a means to cover inflation-adjusted operational costs and to raise EU budget revenues. The Commission also aims to harmonise the fee with comparable travel authorization programs in other countries, such as the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which charges £16 (€18.4), and the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which charges $21 (€17.8).
However, the travel and tourism industry has raised concerns about this decision. They argue that the Commission's decision to reference similar travel authorization schemes sets a concerning precedent. The groups have also expressed a lack of transparency in the fee increase, with questions about whether alternative pricing models, such as €10 or €12, were considered.
In addition, the groups propose that any surplus revenue collected through ETIAS, after covering its official costs, should be assigned to a specific budget line or ideally earmarked for the travel and tourism sector within the EU budget. This, they suggest, could help support tourism infrastructure, staff training, and sustainable development initiatives.
The groups have also called on the European Parliament and European Council to reject the proposed fee hike, stating that it should reflect the actual operational needs of the EU system and be fully justified. They have further requested a detailed cost breakdown from the EU Commission and an impact assessment to justify the costs and adopt a "more proportionate, evidence-based" fee.
The ETIAS system is set to begin its phased roll out on October 12th, 2025, after several delays. The implementation of the system is expected to strengthen the EU's border control measures, but the proposed fee hike has sparked debate and concern within the European travel industry.
The travel industry groups have suggested that any surplus revenue from the ETIAS fees should be allocated to the travel and tourism sector within the EU budget for supportive purposes, such as tourism infrastructure, staff training, and sustainable development initiatives.
They have criticized the lack of transparency in the fee increase decision, questioning whether alternative pricing models were considered, and have requested a detailed cost breakdown from the European Commission.
Moreover, the groups argue that the proposed ETIAS fee hike should reflect the actual operational needs of the EU system and be fully justified, which is why they have appealed to the European Parliament and European Council to reconsider the current fee proposal.
