Monday, March 8, 2010

US TO CHARGE ENTRY FEE FOR TRAVELERS ENTERING COUNTRY

Travelers to the US will be asked to pay a $11 dollar fee to fund a program to boost tourism. And to help the economy.

This fee will apply to the US "visa waiver" program that is mostly used by tourists and short-stay business travellers from 34 countries.

Details of this fee appeared in the Travel Promotion Act, which Barak Obama signed into law last week.This plan is expected to raise about half the funds for a $220 million global "Come to America" campaign.Travellers requiring a visa waiver will still be expected to apply before their travel dates to avoid being stopped from entering the US.

The US has had fewer overseas travellers every year since 9/11. A bank has not yet been found to handle processing the fees. The campaign will be administered by a private sector committee which will be overseen by the Department of Commerce in accord with the departments of State and Homeland Security.

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