Hoteliers have called for the $40 entry fee to Bermuda to be abolished now that most of the controversial Travel Authorisation regime has been abandoned.

Tourism leaders said that although delays in being granted permission to arrive were the main point of concern with the TA scheme, the financial charge was still a deterrent for travellers.

Stephen Todd, the chief executive of the Bermuda Hotel Association, told The Royal Gazette: “The BHA has been lobbying for some time to see the end of the Travel Authorisation process.

“We recognise that there has not been a hue and cry from people paying the fee.

“People were more concerned about other challenges of the process in terms of getting timely approval and delays at airports as they waited for approval.

“Waiting for approval caused concerns, and people were caught on the helpline.

“But we would like to see the payment go. It is still something of a deterrent.

“So many other countries had already dropped these requirements. We know that the latest moves are a boost to hotels as that is the feedback we are getting.”

David Burt, the Premier, said this month that there would be no further payments after the TA ended as planned at the end of November, but the Opposition has said no definitive direction has yet been given.

Michael Dunkley, the One Bermuda Alliance shadow tourism and health minister, also called on the Government to end confusion over the issue.

He told The Royal Gazette: “We have not had a definitive answer.

“The Government needs to end the confusion on the payment, and drop the form as well.

“Our competitors dropped their restrictions and payments weeks, if not months, ago.

“It’s a total nonsense to keep the payment and the form. We need to try and bring back tourists to the island.

“There is no need to keep the payment unless the Government has contractual obligations. And if they do, that is a lack of foresight and a failure of judgement.”

Mr Burt said at an October 6 press conference: “When the Travel Authorisation ends, I do believe that other targets will be met. There will not be any further payments.”

The form was introduced in June 2020 to monitor the Covid-19 status of arrivals, including proof of travel health insurance.

Initially, the Government said the measure was necessary to protect Bermuda’s borders, but acknowledged later that it also provided a necessary source of revenue. The Government is expected to earn $22 million from the TA this year.

The Government had previously insisted that the measure would remain until March 2023, despite repeated calls by critics for it to be scrapped.