The geniuses in Washington have come up with a great idea to attract more tourists to the United States. Yes, you guessed correctly. The politicians are going to impose a tax! Normal readers are probably scratching their heads about the logic of attracting visitors by making them pay more, but it all makes sense when you realize Washington is a town where politicians claim that a giant new healthcare entitlement is going to reduce the budget deficit:
President Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act into law Thursday, which aims to reinvigorate the tourism industry but will require many international visitors to pay a fee to enter the U.S. …Under the new law, visitors from visa-waiver countries — most European countries, Australia, Brunei, Japan, Korea, Singapore and New Zealand — will be required to pay $10 prior to arriving in the U.S. …The USTA estimates the requirement will result in about $8 million collected from tourists each month. …European countries have opposed the bill, saying that it could result in retaliatory fees for Americans and fewer tourists to the U.S.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2010-03-04-obama-travel-promotion-act_N.htm
