US to charge tourists $10 for permission to visit

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.