Comments on: The Travel Promotion Act http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/11/25/the-travel-promotion-act/ Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:18:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Spencer Hanlon http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/11/25/the-travel-promotion-act/comment-page-1/#comment-173 Spencer Hanlon Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:18:24 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1667#comment-173 This is nothing to do with Visas to my mind and so any attachment to the visa waiver or visa required visitors is a red herring. This is an entry tax pure and simple. The challenge with that, as with all trade related tariffs, is that they ultimately don't work. Usually they are imposed by others in retaliation and ultimately the benefit is canceled out. However, what is more concerning is the fact that measure is so counter intuitive to the goal. I want people to do more (i.e. visit the US) and so I will charge them more to do it (i.e. tax them). Unless the US is planning on marketing themselves as a destination in the same way you would sell a Swiss watch or an Italian luxury handbag, I don't understand the strategy beyond simple taxation of non voting taxpayers This is nothing to do with Visas to my mind and so any attachment to the visa waiver or visa required visitors is a red herring.
This is an entry tax pure and simple. The challenge with that, as with all trade related tariffs, is that they ultimately don’t work. Usually they are imposed by others in retaliation and ultimately the benefit is canceled out.
However, what is more concerning is the fact that measure is so counter intuitive to the goal. I want people to do more (i.e. visit the US) and so I will charge them more to do it (i.e. tax them).
Unless the US is planning on marketing themselves as a destination in the same way you would sell a Swiss watch or an Italian luxury handbag, I don’t understand the strategy beyond simple taxation of non voting taxpayers

]]> By: Richard Crum http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/11/25/the-travel-promotion-act/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Richard Crum Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:32:44 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1667#comment-172 Many people will be 'surprised' by this new legistation.  It was tagged on to a bill regarding police enforcement rather than subject to Congressional debate.  Obama will say it creates new jobs.  I predict it will create 11 in the new government tourism group and then cause 1k job losses when tourism is reduced becasue visitors don't see the new fee as a welcome mat. Many people will be ’surprised’ by this new legistation.  It was tagged on to a bill regarding police enforcement rather than subject to Congressional debate. 

Obama will say it creates new jobs.  I predict it will create 11 in the new government tourism group and then cause 1k job losses when tourism is reduced becasue visitors don’t see the new fee as a welcome mat.

]]> By: PWD http://www.airpluscommunity.com/2009/11/25/the-travel-promotion-act/comment-page-1/#comment-171 PWD Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:16:22 +0000 http://www.airpluscommunity.com/?p=1667#comment-171 I suspect the US travel industry will be surprised when it will find out that the 10-$-fee will be seen very negatively by travellers. I suspect the US travel industry will be surprised when it will find out that the 10-$-fee will be seen very negatively by travellers.

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