With all the discussion over ancillary fees there seems to be one that is missing the attention of corporate travel professionals responsible for a global program. In the recent edition of
The Wire…from AirPlus, it is clear that travel industry insiders lack awareness of the
U.S. Travel Promotion Act--even in countries that stand to be most affected by possible new fees.
The U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Travel Promotion Act (a companion bill is now in committee in the House) which would impose a $10 fee on those foreign visitors not paying for a visa to enter the United States. U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow said the legislation would help the United States "strengthen its image in the world as visitors leave with an improved perception of our country and her people." Perhaps, but on the front end, the U.S. image perceived by some may be weakening as a result.
On the same day that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection trumpeted the success of the
Electronic System of Travel Authorization, the European Commission's ambassador to the United States slammed the program. And these two sides are supposed to hammer out an all encompassing second-stage Open Skies agreement? Good luck.
