Trabellers to USA now pay to promote the country

Information source: Bahia magazine.

The new:

Travellers to the United States now have to pay 14 dollars -around 11 euros- even if they are visa-exempt. Most of this is to pay for promoting the US for holidays, as visitor numbers have declined.

The fee goes by the name "Esta", for Electronic System for Travel Authorisiation. Esta has been mandatory since January last year for anyone from the more than 30 countries that are part of a Visa Waiver Program, only now it is a paying concern.

Jacquelyn Aron Bednarz of the US Department of Homeland Security said: "What is important for travellers to know is only those who are applying for a new ESTA, beginning on Sep

tember 8, will have to pay the fee. If you are one of those 26 million travellers who already have an approved ESTA, you don't have to pay the fee, until your ESTA expires."

Esta is valid for business and tourism travellers for stays of 90 days or less, valid for two years. The details on the application include passport number, date of birth and criminal record details, if any.

A European travel agent raised one of the objections her customers have. Christiane Vermant, an agency owner, said: "If you're only on your way through the US and have a couple of hours' stayover waiting for your connection at the airport, you still have to pay. That adds up for families with two or three children, shen they're not even staying in the US."

Various consumer associations have criticised the American govermment's forcing visitors to contribute to a fund to make the US look good around the world. Unless you are Esta approved, you will not be allowed on the plane.

My opinion:

I think that Esta is a unfair payment. It's good when travellers stay in the USA for a long time, but I think that it isn't necessary to pay for Esta when you are only waiting for a plane to go to another country.

If American governament changes the tax it would be better, and then maybe the other countries would follow suit and that will be much better for all the tourists who would be able to have cheaper travel.

In times of crisis I think everybody needs something to cheer themselves up and a cheaper holiday could be what many people need.

Perhaps Spain should be the pioneers of an idea like this against the crisis it may encourage people to come to visit us.

Spain being one of the worst European countries in crisis should come up with an innovation to bring everybody out of the crisis.

And that's my opinion =)