US to charge tourists $10 for permission to visit

[Peikko 1,575]

The US yesterday passed a new law designed to boost dwindling numbers of foreign tourists – it will start charging them for the privilege of entering the country.

The bizarre move has prompted controversy on both sides of the Atlantic and warnings that it could backfire. Under the Travel Promotion Act signed into law by Barack Obama yesterday, a new national marketing body will be set up to promote US holidays abroad, a job that until now has only been done piecemeal by individual states. However the money to pay for the "multi-channel marketing campaign" is to be raised in part from visiting tourists, by charging them $10 for permission to enter. The rest of the funding will be raised in private sector contributions.

Currently visitors from Britain and the EU do not need a visa to visit the US on holiday, but must complete an ESTA (Electronic Scheme for Travel Authorisation) application online, giving detailed personal information. Filling in the form has been free, but it will now cost of $10 per person. The date for the introduction of the fee has not yet been announced, but officials estimate it will take between five months and a year to set up a system to collect the money.

Many within the tourism industry, in both the US and the UK, welcomed the move, saying it would help reverse the decline in visitors as a result of the global recession and increasing public concerns about the treatment of tourists by US immigration officials.

"President Obama has acted to support the power of travel to serve as an economic stimulant, job generator and diplomatic tool," said Roger Dow, president of the US Travel Association, an umbrella body for the US travel industry.

Richard Wimms, managing director of British-based holiday company The Vacations Group, said the move was "great news". "Up until now the US hasn't had a central fund to promote travel there, but it has been much needed and is long overdue," he said. "As far as the $10 fee is concerned, I think it's a relatively small sum compared with the cost of the whole holiday, and is certainly far less than the airport tax charged for leaving the UK."

But others have warned the US levy might prompt #######-for-tat charges from more countries.

"We generally oppose tourism taxes, which this is – we're concerned about retaliatory action by other countries," said Steve Lott, a North America spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 airlines worldwide. "We don't want foreigners to have to jump through so many hoops that they just give up and don't bother coming ot the US. "

According to the US Travel Association, foreign visitor numbers have dropped every year since 2001, with 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors last year than in 2000.

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[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

i'd rather see them remove vwp and make them apply for visas like everyone else.

[Nagishkaw 510]

[Peikko 1,575]

Germany has a lot of buying power, or is that selling power? Still one of the largest manufacturing countries in the world, second only to China right?

[mawilson 2,133]

Many within the tourism industry, in both the US and the UK, welcomed the move, saying it would help reverse the decline in visitors as a result of the global recession and increasing public concerns about the treatment of tourists by US immigration officials.

How would it "reverse the decline in visitors"?

People who didn't want to go will now say "Yeah! Here's our chance to pay a $10 fee"?

The new law sounds incredibly stupid.

It's enough to discourage someone from visiting the US ("who do they think they are? screw them,

I'm going somewhere else") and not enough to do anything useful with.

Surely a visiting tourist would boost the economy by more than $10?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

How about addressing the cause of the decline? They were comparing 2000 to 2009 right. Well there's 9/11 + a global economic downturn. Having talked to a lot of people outside the US about visiting, quite a few don't want to come simply because of the way they were treated at their POE.

[mawilson 2,133]

quite a few don't want to come simply because of the way they were treated at their POE.

So let's add insult to injury and charge them a $10 fee. Brilliant!

[SolitaryThrush 0]

Absolutely ridiculous, and demonstrates a cluelessness by people who likely have no clue what the rest of the world is like.

Another poster was right, how about addressing the reasons for the decline. Like, stop invading foreign countries, and stop making travel into and around the US more of a hassle than it's worth.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

This is very similar to the "bank tax" IMO.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I think they should charge Australians more since they can afford it.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Germany has a lot of buying power, or is that selling power? Still one of the largest manufacturing countries in the world, second only to China right?

The U.S. is still by far the largest with China second then Japan and then Germany. The rest barely measure up to these power houses. Population wise though makes Germany very well off as they have far fewer people to share the spoils.

[luckytxn 2,264]

How about addressing the cause of the decline? They were comparing 2000 to 2009 right. Well there's 9/11 + a global economic downturn. Having talked to a lot of people outside the US about visiting, quite a few don't want to come simply because of the way they were treated at their POE.

Have to agree somewhat. I have to go into canada sometimes and to come back is real hassle. These border control idiots seem to be permanently having a bad day. And I am a American. Was thinking or at least wondering if they were this way because I was an American returning and if they treated other countries citizens the same way. Most people I know over seas want to come here as it cheaper now for years to visit.

I will say I do expect them to tear my stuff up when I travel back from Asia and they don't disappoint.

Edited March 6, 2010 by luckytxn

[mawilson 2,133]

The U.S. is still by far the largest with China second then Japan and then Germany.

Japan is still #2.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Japan is still #2.

Liar. Australia is #1 at everything.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Want more visitors? Easy. Make it easier to come, kill ESTA, and, most importantly, stop the BULLSH*T at the US airports. I know many Europeans who have visited the US many times in the past but every single one of them is fed up with the nonsense of having to take off their shoes and being treated like criminals.