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.jpg "Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website.")
The country’s first national travel promotion program has been established this year, resulting in the online visa applications to the United States—the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to replace the hard copy forms normally filled out by passengers during their flight—at a cost of $14.
It will be compulsory for travelers from 36 countries to pay for a visiting fee when they visit the United States. The impetus behind the change to a fee-paying basis is to encourage more people to the United States. Basically those who use the Visa Waiver Program will only be able to pay with a credit card like MasterCard, Visa, or American Express. However if the application is not accepted there is another fee of $14 to reapply.
Jacqueline Bednarz, from the U.S. Homeland Security Agency, promoted the new system and said, “We’re very confident that the system is fast and easy and very user-friendly for travelers applying for an ESTA to come to the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program. We certainly are ready and see this as a great way to promote tourism to our country.”
Out of the $14, $4 will go toward the operational/administration costs and the rest will contribute to promoting U.S tourism.
There has been some backlash about the initiative.
“It’s like inviting a friend over for dinner and then charging them a fee at the door,” said Steve Lott, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, which represents airlines around the world, in a statement.
“If the idea is to make the United States more welcoming and to increase tourism, raising the entry fee seems to be counterintuitive to what you’re trying to do,” Lott said.
There was resistance to the fee by Congress members prior to the Travel Promotion Act, which was subsequently authorized by President Barack Obama in March.
In 2008, there were 633,000 less overseas visitors to the United States than in 2000, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Cecilia Malmström, European commissioner for home affairs, said,” [She has] repeatedly raised concerns about this fee, and remain[s] convinced that these new requirements … are inconsistent with the commitment of the U.S. to facilitate transatlantic mobility, and will be an additional onus for European citizens traveling to the U.S.”
Countries including the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Australia, and Japan are included in the 36 countries that use the Visa Waiver Program. It enables visitors to travel to the United States for a duration of a maximum 90 days without obtaining a visa.
It will be compulsory for travelers from 36 countries to pay for a visiting fee when they visit the United States. The impetus behind the change to a fee-paying basis is to encourage more people to the United States. Basically those who use the Visa Waiver Program will only be able to pay with a credit card like MasterCard, Visa, or American Express. However if the application is not accepted there is another fee of $14 to reapply.
Jacqueline Bednarz, from the U.S. Homeland Security Agency, promoted the new system and said, “We’re very confident that the system is fast and easy and very user-friendly for travelers applying for an ESTA to come to the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program. We certainly are ready and see this as a great way to promote tourism to our country.”
Out of the $14, $4 will go toward the operational/administration costs and the rest will contribute to promoting U.S tourism.
There has been some backlash about the initiative.
“It’s like inviting a friend over for dinner and then charging them a fee at the door,” said Steve Lott, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, which represents airlines around the world, in a statement.
“If the idea is to make the United States more welcoming and to increase tourism, raising the entry fee seems to be counterintuitive to what you’re trying to do,” Lott said.
There was resistance to the fee by Congress members prior to the Travel Promotion Act, which was subsequently authorized by President Barack Obama in March.
In 2008, there were 633,000 less overseas visitors to the United States than in 2000, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Cecilia Malmström, European commissioner for home affairs, said,” [She has] repeatedly raised concerns about this fee, and remain[s] convinced that these new requirements … are inconsistent with the commitment of the U.S. to facilitate transatlantic mobility, and will be an additional onus for European citizens traveling to the U.S.”
Countries including the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Australia, and Japan are included in the 36 countries that use the Visa Waiver Program. It enables visitors to travel to the United States for a duration of a maximum 90 days without obtaining a visa.
For additional information visit: travel.state.gov
