Is the New $10 Tourist Tax on Foreign Visitors Good for the U.S. Travel Industry?

[EnLinea Media]

The new $10 US tax on foreign visitors from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program was signed into law on March 4 by President Obama to help fund a Corporation for Travel Promotion. This non-profit organization will use the funds to promote the U.S. as a destination to foreign tourists.

What is your opinion on this tax? Will it help bring more tourists to our shores, or will it further alienate foreign tourists already upset by U.S. entry requirements and procedures?

Here's some good background from CNN.com.

Your thoughts by March 26th are sincerely appreciated!

[Indra Chopra]

$10 is peanurts but what is not is the paranoia. A visitor can be from any region and unless the Immigration and customs have a friendlier attitude (they are welcome to their checks and guidelines) 'Destination USA' will be a necessity not a pleasure,

[Jose R. Garrigo]

Why the complaints? I'm going to China this summer and had to pay $100 for a tourist visa. Funny thing is that U.S. citizens pay MORE for the visa than citizens of many other countries. I also had to fill in a lengthy application with lots of information about myself. Nobody is going to stop coming to the U.S. for a $10 fee. If administered properly, that fee will be used to promote more tourism to our country.

[Anil]

As a frequent traveler, I have to say that the countries that do charge visa from US Citizens, do so on the basis of reciprocity. Americans change our citizens X, so we'll charge X. Same is true for application forms. Ever looked at what information Russia asks of us ? Same as we ask of them.

Jose R. Garrigo said:

Why the complaints? I'm going to China this summer and had to pay $100 for a tourist visa. Funny thing is that U.S. citizens pay MORE for the visa than citizens of many other countries. I also had to fill in a lengthy application with lots of information about myself. Nobody is going to stop coming to the U.S. for a $10 fee. If administered properly, that fee will be used to promote more tourism to our country.