"European tourism leaders criticize steep increase in ETIAS charges"

ETIAS Fee Increase Sparks Industry Concerns and Calls for Transparency

"European tourism leaders criticize steep increase in ETIAS charges"

The European Commission has proposed a significant increase in the fee for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will affect visa-exempt non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area. The proposed fee will rise from €7 to €20 per application, a near-tripling of the current cost.

The decision has sparked concerns among travel and tourism groups, who have labelled the increase as "disproportionate" and "unjustified" given the current economic pressures facing the industry. The groups argue that the original €7 fee, agreed upon in 2018, was intended to be modest and reasonable, and they fear that the increased fee could deter travelers, harm Europe's competitiveness as a destination, and disproportionately affect families and frequent travelers when combined with other travel-related costs.

There is also widespread concern about the lack of transparency in the Commission's process. Industry leaders have criticized the absence of a detailed, published impact assessment and question whether alternative, lower fee levels (such as €10 or €12) were seriously considered. They argue that fee-setting should be transparent, based on actual operational needs, and avoid simply emulating other countries’ schemes without clear rationale.

As of now, there is no clear public evidence that alternative pricing models were rigorously assessed by the European Commission. The travel and tourism associations have specifically requested transparency on whether options like €10 or €12 were evaluated and have called for a thorough cost breakdown and a full impact assessment to justify the proposed €20 fee.

The proposed ETIAS fee increase is driven by claims of rising system costs and a desire to align with international norms. However, the travel industry strongly disputes the proportionality and transparency of the hike. The groups propose 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.

The ETIAS is expected to become operational in late 2026, following the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to begin its phased roll out on October 12th, 2025 after several delays. The Commission justifies the ETIAS fee increase with the rise in inflation since 2018, additional operational costs, and the intention to bring the fee in line with similar travel authorization programs.

The signatories of the statement include Airlines for Europe, the European Regions Airline Association, the European Tourism Association, the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Association, the European Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés, the European Federation of Rural Tourism (RURALTOUR) among others.

| Proposal | Official Rationale | Industry Concerns | Alternative Pricing Models Considered? | |-----------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | ETIAS fee to €20| Higher operational costs, alignment with international standards | Disproportionate, lacks transparency, may deter travelers | No public evidence; industry demands assessment[2][3][4] |

The groups have also called for an impact assessment to justify the costs and adopt a "more proportionate, evidence-based" fee. They argue that the Commission's decision to reference similar travel authorization schemes sets a concerning precedent, as the fees for the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) are significantly lower, at £16 (€18.4) and $21 (€17.8) respectively.

The travel and tourism groups argue that the proposed ETIAS fee increase, from €7 to €20 per application, may discourage travelers due to its disproportionate nature and combined travel-related costs, potentially harming Europe's competitiveness as a preferred travel destination.
The lack of transparency in the European Commission's process concerning the ETIAS fee increase has raised concerns among industry leaders, who question whether alternative, lower fee levels (such as €10 or €12) were seriously considered before the adoption of the €20 fee.
The travel and tourism associations have proposed that any surplus revenue collected through ETIAS should be assigned to a specific budget line or earmarked for the travel and tourism sector within the EU budget, reflecting the industry's concerns about the proposed fee increase and its potential impact on business finances and lifestyles.