Spain plays down likely Etias impact as 'fake website' warnings emerge
Harry KembleSpain’s secretary of state for tourism has told TTG@WTM she doesn’t foresee the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or Etias, scheme being a big issue for British travellers when it eventually comes into effect, her words preceding a warning about a wave of fake Etias websites springing up ahead of the scheme’s launch.
Rosanna Morillo said that while any procedures the EU introduces, such as Etias, need to be streamlined, they typically always improve over time.
“With any changes like this, the processes will get better and better with time, but so far – and I’ve seen the current design – I don’t foresee a big issue for British travellers,” she said. “I think the scheme is pretty reasonable.”
Under the proposal, holidaymakers from third countries – such as the UK post-Brexit – will have to apply in advance to travel to the bloc and pay a €7 fee. The UK is one of 60 non-EU countries that will need to apply for Etias travel authorisation.
Etias will go hand-in-hand with the EU’s proposed entry-exit scheme, which will see travellers crossing an EU border subject to biometric checks. Like the Etias visa waiver, which will be valid for three years, these biometrics will be kept on file for three years.
Morillo’s comments preceded a WTM London panel discussion on Wednesday (8 November) around the impacts of Brexit on travel, which touched on the Etias scheme.
Izabella Cooper, senior stakeholder management officer, European Border and Coast, told a panel discussion at WTM London on Wednesday (8 November) the scheme, which has been repeatedly delayed, was now scheduled to launch in “mid-2025”.
Cooper warned that the EU had recently seen the “rapid emergence” of fake Etias websites, akin to those that dog the US Esta application process.
“It’s important to know about them because they have EU URLs,” she explained. “Some websites are genuine commercial intermediaries, but there’s only one Etias website, which travellers will be using. The website is already operating, but it does not allow people to apply.”
She added: “The Etias website will allow people to apply for Etias on behalf of travellers. One website claims it has already processed 671 Etias applications, which is not possible.
"Travellers should be particularly concerned about this. Some websites are offering an early-bird discount. This raises a lot of alarm bells.”
To raise awareness about the scheme, the European Commission has prepared two information campaigns and is working “closely” with carriers ahead of the 2025 launch, Cooper added. “Etias is an enormous enterprise and there are three EU agencies that are responsible for setting up the IT infrastructure,” she said.
Cooper confirmed the Etias website functionality would be rolled out before the scheme’s launch in 2025.
Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s director of public affairs, echoed Morillo’s comments, saying: “I don’t think this will have a huge influence on people’s appetite to travel. The US and Canada have their own systems. The UK is going to have its own system as well [ETA].
“We’ve tackled similar systems in the past which didn’t have an effect on travel from the UK to EU. The communication is critical.”
He said Abta would be “engaging” with the EU Commission and EU border management agency, Frontex, to “make sure every stakeholder is working together”.
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