"Criticism Mounts: Tourism Leaders in Europe Voice Displeasure Over Increased ETIAS Costs"
The European Commission's decision to increase the proposed fee for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) from €7 to €20 has raised eyebrows among travel and tourism groups. The groups argue that the fee hike is disproportionate, unfair, and could potentially harm Europe's travel competitiveness.
Industry leaders, such as the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Association (ECTAA) and Airlines for Europe (A4E), have voiced their concerns. They argue that the increase in travel costs, including city tourist taxes and now the ETIAS fee, places additional financial and administrative burdens on travelers without corresponding benefits to the user experience.
The Commission justifies the fee increase as necessary to cover rising operational costs, including new technology upgrades, staffing, and system maintenance. The Commission also aims to align ETIAS with global travel authorization systems like the U.S. ESTA and UK ETA. However, critics contend that the increase contradicts earlier legislative agreements for a reasonable cost.
The travel groups suggest that any surplus revenue collected through ETIAS should be assigned to a specific budget line or ideally earmarked for the travel and tourism sector within the EU budget. They argue that this would help support tourism infrastructure, staff training, and sustainable development initiatives.
The groups have called on the European Parliament and European Council to reject the proposed fee hike. They also request an impact assessment to justify the costs and adopt a "more proportionate, evidence-based" fee. Preference is shown for maintaining a modest and reasonable fee, as originally agreed during 2018 co-legislator negotiations.
The ETIAS system is expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026, following the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) which is set to begin its phased rollout on October 12th, 2025, after several delays. The ETIAS will require visa-exempt non-EU travellers to obtain an online authorization and pay a related fee before entering the 29-country EU/Schengen area.
The concerns about the ETIAS fee increase primarily revolve around its perceived disproportionate impact on travelers and competitiveness. The travel and tourism industry argues that the Commission's decision to reference similar travel authorization schemes sets a concerning precedent. They contend that fee decisions should reflect the actual operational needs of the EU system and be fully justified.
- The travel and tourism groups, such as ECTAA and A4E, have expressed their concerns about the proposed increase in the ETIAS fee, stating that it may be disproportionate and could pose legal issues for travel businesses, given the potential harm to Europe's travel competitiveness.
- In light of the ETIAS fee increase and other travel costs like city tourist taxes, these groups argue that financial burdens on travelers increase without commensurate benefits to their user experience or lifestyle, which could potentially affect the overall finance and business operations of the travel and tourism sector.
- To address these concerns, the travel groups suggest that any surplus revenue generated from ETIAS should be earmarked for supporting tourism infrastructure, staff training, and sustainable development initiatives within the EU – an approach they believe would ensure a more proportionate cost and align with the original legislative agreements on a reasonable fee.
