March 05 - Visitors to U.S. will have to pay $10 fee

[DoingFlorida News]

Yesterday U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill which will mean visitors to the USA will need to pay an extra $10 each. According to the U.S. Travel Association the Travel Promotion Act is needed to help address the problem of visitor numbers falling during the past decade and to help fund tourism marketing campaigns.

It is believed the fee will paid when the on-line ESTA visa-waiver application is completed and will last for two years. This is the length of time the ESTA visa-waiver application is valid for.

[tinklancs]

So how does that work then? Visitor numbers are falling so they're going to charge more to visit! Seems a bit back-to-front to me! Now if they were offering something [not even money] in return for visiting, that would work!

[BAYCAS]

I'm with you on that one Tink. its the same as gate prices and parkling going up as numbers fall. Shouldn't it be the Americans paying to enourage us to visit them and spend our cash rather than us paying for the privilage on top of whatever landing charges we already pay plus not being entitled to the discounts Us residents get?? $40 may not be much in the great scheme of things but its $40 less to spend to boost thier economy

[Fernix]

Couldn't agree more with you both. Surely if they are wanting to encourage visitors then maybe there should be an incentive, not stiffing us for more money! Everyone seems to want more, more, more of our hard earned money!

Ok, I'm off my soap box now that I have vented

[Justice Socks]

Do you all realise you already pay a resort tax, sometimes known as a bed tax. Have a look below and see how much of it is spent on tourism or in other words...us.

So this new tax is going to be spent on tourism, pull the other one!!!


Resort Tax Collections
Total % change
1994 63,718,804 n/a
1995 83,285,498 30.7%
1996 97,628,014 17.2%
1997 112,362,528 15.1%
1998 120,368,941 7.1%
1999 125,181,877 4.0%
2000 136,708,605 9.2%
2001 121,182,608 - 11.4%
2002 118,644,758 - 2.1%
2003 118,521,311 - 0.1%
2004 143,616,272 21.2%
2005 156,995,238 9.3%
2006 172,898,899 10.1%
2007 203,078,754 17.3%
2008 203,282,158 0.1%
2009 173,106,796 - 14.8%

*** Seminole County Resort tax increased from 3% to 5% in February 2009.
** Orange County Resort tax increased from 5% to 6% in September 2006. Orange County Resort tax increased from 4% to 5% in February 1995.
* Effective July 1, 2004 Osceola County Tourist Development Tax Rate increased from 5% to 6%

Resort Tax Used For:
•Orange County - Convention Center, Arena, Citrus Bowl, Tourism promotion;
•Osceola County - Kissimmee CVB operations and marketing programs, Osceola County stadium and 2 other sports complexes, grant programs;
•Seminole County - Promote tourism, funding grants for cultural and fine arts programs and activities;

Source: County Comptrollers' Offices

[oxo]

do you think thay have cottened on to this is rip off briton

[Fernix]

Originally Posted by Justice Socks

Do you all realise you already pay a resort tax, sometimes known as a bed tax. Have a look below and see how much of it is spent on tourism or in other words...us.

So this new tax is going to be spent on tourism, pull the other one!!!


Resort Tax Collections
Total % change
1994 63,718,804 n/a
1995 83,285,498 30.7%
1996 97,628,014 17.2%
1997 112,362,528 15.1%
1998 120,368,941 7.1%
1999 125,181,877 4.0%
2000 136,708,605 9.2%
2001 121,182,608 - 11.4%
2002 118,644,758 - 2.1%
2003 118,521,311 - 0.1%
2004 143,616,272 21.2%
2005 156,995,238 9.3%
2006 172,898,899 10.1%
2007 203,078,754 17.3%
2008 203,282,158 0.1%
2009 173,106,796 - 14.8%

*** Seminole County Resort tax increased from 3% to 5% in February 2009.
** Orange County Resort tax increased from 5% to 6% in September 2006. Orange County Resort tax increased from 4% to 5% in February 1995.
* Effective July 1, 2004 Osceola County Tourist Development Tax Rate increased from 5% to 6%

Resort Tax Used For:
•Orange County - Convention Center, Arena, Citrus Bowl, Tourism promotion;
•Osceola County - Kissimmee CVB operations and marketing programs, Osceola County stadium and 2 other sports complexes, grant programs;
•Seminole County - Promote tourism, funding grants for cultural and fine arts programs and activities;

Source: County Comptrollers' Offices

JS are you also known as 'www', you are a source of such diverse information. What would we do without you?