US exempts Canadians from $10 tourist fees

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Now, I really don't get how charging people an extra $10 is going to make it easier or more desirable to visit the US - I mean, there is no fee to visit now and tourism is down. How is charging people going to increase tourism - making them pay to get something they now get for free? Is it just me or am I missing something?

http://www.thestar.com/travel/article/7753...isitor-fee?bn=1

WASHINGTON–The British will pay, the Aussies will pay, and so too will the rest of America's closest allies under a new travel initiative that will levy a $10 fee on visitors to the United States.

Everyone, that is, but Canadians, who are exempt and will continue to enjoy fee-free travel on the merits of "our special relationship," U.S. officials confirmed Thursday.

Signed into law Thursday by U.S. President Barack Obama, the American Travel Promotion Act is designed to boost travel to the U.S., which fell precipitously as heightened security measures took hold in the aftermath of 9/11.

But buried in the bill's fine print is its funding mechanism. The travel industry is to provide $100 million to wage a global "Come To America" campaign, together will matching funds culled from the proceeds of a $10 fee on foreign travellers from 35 countries that share visa-waiver status with America.

"It is just the way the puck bounced. Canadians alone will not pay the fee because of our special relationship. But it will apply to all other countries in the visa waiver program, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea and much of western Europe," said Geoff Freeman, senior vice-president of the U.S. Travel Association.

Officials say the $200 million program is aimed at reversing the damage of years of negative impressions about the difficulty of crossing the U.S. border.

"The perception of Fortress America has taken hold, partly because we haven't gone out and told people we want their business. And so we've had fewer overseas travellers every single year since 9/11," Freeman said.

"This is a major effort to reverse that. In many ways, we're looking to Canada as the model. We all watched the Vancouver Olympics and saw what a great job Canada did. That set the benchmark for us."

Travel patterns between Canada and the U.S., meanwhile, continue to tilt southward, with fewer Americans making the cross-border journey.

In 2009, 20.5 million U.S. residents visited Canada, a 9.2 per cent decline from the 22.6 million in 2008, according to Statistics Canad

Edited March 11, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Sam and Ben 2]

I guess I'm missing something.

Everyone's supposed to feel moved to visit due to a marketing campaign they plan to employ based on funds they're going to charge them to visit? Um..

[trailmix 77]

This is silliness and rather amusing. I thought Obama had more common sense than this.

I don't know how an ad campaign is going to help dispel the TRUTH that it is fortress American and they really don't want us there. It's not a perception, as we all know.

I never thought they would implement the $10 fee for Canadians.

Edited March 11, 2010 by trailmix

[Obama 2012 1,714]

In 2009, 20.5 million U.S. residents visited Canada, a 9.2 per cent decline from the 22.6 million in 2008, according to Statistics Canad

I wonder if this accounts for 'multiple' journeys. If not I count as 3 people

[Leafgal 3]

All I can say is wow really

[leonsgal70 3]

Wonder where the proceeds will be applied....who knows maybe they plan on handing out a complimentary map of the USA w/payment....

Wow...great read...TY!!!!

[antda 13]

Kathryn41-Thanks for posting this article...

Lol....I agree, charging a visitor's fee certainly doesn't make people want to come into the country..I missed the point too.....

By the way, I was charged $6 (the cost of an I-94 card) when I came for a visit years ago as a Canadian...I want a refund! (lol..just kidding...)

Really, the government should find better things to do than to charge tourist fees!..

First it is tourist fees, then what? What else are they going to charge tourists later on?

Personally, I think the Americans were just bitter about losing the hockey games to the Canadians in the olympics....

And perhaps this is their way of "making peace" with the Canadians off the rink...

Ant

Now, I really don't get how charging people an extra $10 is going to make it easier or more desirable to visit the US - I mean, there is no fee to visit now and tourism is down. How is charging people going to increase tourism - making them pay to get something they now get for free? Is it just me or am I missing something?

http://www.thestar.com/travel/article/7753...isitor-fee?bn=1

WASHINGTON–The British will pay, the Aussies will pay, and so too will the rest of America's closest allies under a new travel initiative that will levy a $10 fee on visitors to the United States.

Everyone, that is, but Canadians, who are exempt and will continue to enjoy fee-free travel on the merits of "our special relationship," U.S. officials confirmed Thursday.

Signed into law Thursday by U.S. President Barack Obama, the American Travel Promotion Act is designed to boost travel to the U.S., which fell precipitously as heightened security measures took hold in the aftermath of 9/11.

But buried in the bill's fine print is its funding mechanism. The travel industry is to provide $100 million to wage a global "Come To America" campaign, together will matching funds culled from the proceeds of a $10 fee on foreign travellers from 35 countries that share visa-waiver status with America.

"It is just the way the puck bounced. Canadians alone will not pay the fee because of our special relationship. But it will apply to all other countries in the visa waiver program, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea and much of western Europe," said Geoff Freeman, senior vice-president of the U.S. Travel Association.

Officials say the $200 million program is aimed at reversing the damage of years of negative impressions about the difficulty of crossing the U.S. border.

"The perception of Fortress America has taken hold, partly because we haven't gone out and told people we want their business. And so we've had fewer overseas travellers every single year since 9/11," Freeman said.

"This is a major effort to reverse that. In many ways, we're looking to Canada as the model. We all watched the Vancouver Olympics and saw what a great job Canada did. That set the benchmark for us."

Travel patterns between Canada and the U.S., meanwhile, continue to tilt southward, with fewer Americans making the cross-border journey.

In 2009, 20.5 million U.S. residents visited Canada, a 9.2 per cent decline from the 22.6 million in 2008, according to Statistics Canad

[antda 13]

Leonsgal70-(sort of off topic..)..But I couldn't help but notice from your last post that we both have similar VJ avatars...

I guess you like that American flag heart pic just as much as I do... Cool....

Ant

Edited March 12, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Just another one of Obama's great ideas he can't possibly afford. So, why not just make the people the advertising campaign is aimed at pay for it themselves? Yeah, that makes complete sense. Nothing says, "welcome to the US!" like "if you want in you better hand me $10"

[Pauley 2]

I thought Obama had more common sense than this.

Oops.

I never thought they would implement the $10 fee for Canadians.

They didn't. Visitors from VWP countries will be charged; Canadians will not.

I suspect (though I haven't read the act) that it's happening that way because of that very wording -- I bet they're imposing the charge on anyone visiting using the Visa Waver Program, and Canada's not getting the hit because they don't fall under that specific program.

[warlord 73]

Actually this is a great idea. I just think it was the media that screwed up the portrayal of this as an incentive to get people to come to the US, I think they messed up the wordings.

No one will not come to the US because of an extra $10. People have not stopped flying because you get charged $15 for a check in bag. Now look at the big picture. Since $10 a person won't deter anyone from flying internationally into the US, look at all the money that will be made to help rebuild the government after it was destroyed a few years back.

It's not the idea that is dumb, it's how the media stated it's an incentive for people to come here. It's not an incentive, but it's definatly one hell of a great idea...

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Isn't it pretty common to pay a fee or tax when you enter or exit a country? Like Mexico for instance...I assume it's for taxes on goods you've bought ...not sure, I've just heard a couple people mentioning this when they travel

[sdw 10]

I have to pay to go to Canada from NYS. Sure it's only 3.25 but I don't pay it to go home to NYS.

[trailmix 77]

Oops.

They didn't. Visitors from VWP countries will be charged; Canadians will not.

You seem to misread everything I write

But it is the way I wrote it. I will rephrase. I had seen the proposal article already - at that point they had not said that Canadian's would not be charged, if I remember correctly. So it wasn't a surprise to me that they did not.

Oh and for the record, I still like Obama - the 10 dollar fee, while silly, hasn't changed that.

Edited March 12, 2010 by trailmix

[antda 13]

I have to pay to go to Canada from NYS. Sure it's only 3.25 but I don't pay it to go home to NYS.

Sdw-You bring up a good point here...

Likewise, I have to pay $3.25 Canadian or $3.00 American nowadays to get into Canada from NYS....

From the Peace Bridge, Queenston/Lewiston Bridge, and Rainbow Bridges...

(Oh and don't forge the Grand Island tolls on the US side too.....On the bright side..at least they got rid of the Buffalo tolls a few years ago...lol..)

Lol..I found it odd too, that going into Canada I am charged this fee, but going into the USA it's free...lol...

One other thing I've wondering though about this: How come the fees always fluctuate for the bridges? One time it's at par, and the next time it's cheaper to pay in American than Canadian...lol..they can't seem to make up their minds.....

Oh well..I make sure I have my change handy...

And is it just me, or that every time I go into Canada I feel more broke...lol..between toll bridges and sales tax and higher prices overall...yikes....

Nevertheless, I don't think anyone visiting any country should be charged the extra fees.....

Seems kind of "unwelcoming" to all tourists there...lol..

Ant