UNITED STATES: The US is to introduce a 'pay as you go' scheme, charging international visitors an admission fee to enter the country. Only those travelling under the US Visa Waiver Programme will be required to pay the as-yet undecided fee and travellers who have already paid for a visa will be exempt. Ironically, the money raised will go towards trying to promote the US as a holiday destination.
The 2008 Travel Promotion Act "establishes a public private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate US security and entry policies".
However, the law also specifies that no taxpayers' money will be used to pay for the promotional activity and that funds will have to come from US tourism's private sector and from visitors' pockets.
There is some small benefit for business travellers. US$10 million has been earmarked to improve the Department of Homeland Security's Global Entry Programme, which offers fast-track screening for preregistered travellers; and more than US$37 million will pay for 734 extra Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at airports and border crossings.