Why is Tom Ridge suggesting anything? Wants new traveler's fee implemented

[babylonsister]

http://public.cq.com/docs/hs/hsnews110-000002533247.html

Ridge Suggests Traveler’s Fee to Cover U.S. Security, Promotion Costs
By Eleanor Stables, CQ Staff

Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge released a report Friday recommending charging a $10 fee to certain visitors to the United States and using the revenue to strengthen security and create marketing to increase travel to the United States.

The fee would apply to visitors under the Visa Waiver Program. The VWP permits nationals from selected countries to enter the United States for tourism or business without a visa for up to 90 days. In fiscal 2006 more than 15 million VWP travelers visited the United States. A fee for entering or exiting a country is not unusual and would not put the nation at a disadvantage, Ridge said.

Ridge is pushing to expand the VWP by 10 countries, saying it would increase overseas travel to the United States by 1.6 million new visitors a year. That increase would yield $8 billion in visitor spending, according to a study conducted by Oxford Economics and Ridge for the Discover America Partnership, which promotes U.S. travel.

The report says the fee for VWP visitors would generate $200 million a year and suggests half of it could be used for additional border personnel, a visitor exit tracking system, and other homeland security programs while the other half could be used for tourism marketing.

“The United States remains the only major global destination without an ongoing marketing program to brand and promote itself,” according to the study.

The proposal would also improve public diplomacy:rofl: , as U.S. visitors gain a more positive perspective on the country, Ridge said at the National Press Club in Washington.

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[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Something that will work much better:

Housebreak the TSA and ICE people at airports and other ports of entry. They've gone way over the line.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Well, considering the current exchange rate between the US dollar and Euro, adding another travel

fee would discourage all those foreigners from coming here to buy cheap goods!

[acmavm]

3. Geeze. These people are like herpes or old luggage.

They NEVER to away.

[aquart]

4. Oh, they haven't crippled the travel and tourist industry enough

with their demented, overwrought paranoia?