EUROPE – The European travel industry is mobilizing The European Commission has opposed the European Commission's proposal to triple the ETIAS fee from €7 to €20. Major industry associations, including the European Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ECTAA), the European Tourism Association, and Airlines for Europe (A4E), have expressed serious concern about this increase, which they call "disproportionate." The ETIAS system, which will enter into force in the last quarter of 2026, will require visa-exempt citizens of non-EU countries to obtain a travel authorization before entering the Schengen area. The fee increase represents a significant challenge for an industry already strained by rising operating costs and post-pandemic difficulties, threatening the competitiveness of the sector. European tourism compared to other international destinations.
The economic impact on the tourism industry and travellers
The new €20 ETIAS authorization fee could generate around €300 million annually for the European Union budget, but tourism leaders fear the increase could discourage international travelers. The industry stresses that while the increase may seem modest on its own, it adds to a series of growing costs weighing on families and business travelersThe Council and the European Parliament have already expressed concerns about the €20 proposal, calling for a more proportionate and evidence-based fee. Industry associations argue that this decision contradicts the original intention of the co-legislators in 2018, who had agreed on a modest and reasonable fee. The primary concern is that Europe could lose competitiveness compared to other global tourist destinations.
