US plans $10 tourist tax
(21 September 2009)Britons travelling to the US could soon be charged $10 (£6) to enter the country.
The bill, entitled the Travel Promotion Act (TPA), would enforce a 'collection fee' to be paid by all travellers entering the US under the Visa Waiver Programme using the online authorisation system ESTA, which was launched in January.
Although the bill is yet to be ratified by the US House of Representatives, it was passed by an overwhelming majority in the Senate last week and looks likely to come into force by the end of 2009.
The main aim of the legislation is to provide funds to strengthen the image of the US abroad and reverse the decline in overseas visitors which have dropped in recent years.
However, some travel industry observers fear that the tax may actually dissuade travellers from visiting.
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