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Speaking after his recent attendance at the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in Brussels, the Newry and Armagh MLA said "The requirement for tourists to the north to apply for an ETA will pose significant challenges to our tourism industry and negative impact on hospitality and other sectors who depend on tourist spending.
"The 3 working day processing requirement will end spontaneous travel into the north, posing particular worry for various local businesses along the border regions and in towns such as Newry that attract tourists from the south for dining, shopping and sight - seeing on a short - term basis.
"Business tourism, which has been growing in the north, will also be deterred by the ETA requirements. Research shows that the vast majority of business tourists enter the north through Dublin - due largely to the lack of capacity at the north's airports.
"At a time when the north is being promoted as a good destination for Foreign Direct Investment because of the market access resulting from the Windsor Framework, it is illogical to impose barriers to business tourism.
"Businesses across the north need all possible opportunities to succeed. The imposition of these types of barriers, imposed on our communities by Tory Brexiteers, are unfair to our tourist industry and to all those reliant on the tourism industry for their success.
"These challenges to our economy require a functioning executive and assembly. All parties to the executive have a responsibility to do all we can to protect one of our most successful industries."
