Possible $10 charge for ESTA

[Steve]

So it looks like the USA want to charge every visa waiver traveller $10 for the privilege of travelling to their country.

Although by the looks of it their has been some opposition from the EU.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1214093/U-S-set-charge-10-ESTA-fee-visa-waiver-UK-tourists.html#comments

[Shirls]

The comments after the article are hilarious <:lol
I personally can't see it happening, though they could be clever like our government and charge an environmental tax so we will all be happy to pay it knowing that we are saving the environment <:rolleyes

[ellie]

I think it would be a retrograde step to introduce such a charge.

Our government seems to get away with blue murder, but I hope that the US will realise the damage it could do to tourism and rethink this charge.

Maybe they could use this $10 to train their Immigration officials to be a bit more welcoming.<:wink

[JAF]

I doubt they will realise the damage they could do. Have a nasty feeling they think it is only $10 so not much. What they forget for a hard pressed family of eg 4 travelling from the UK it is 4 x $10 = $40 add to that the additional air passenger duty and it could make some families decide it is too expensive and so go elsewhere. It is pointless advertising if you are selling to a market which cannot afford your product. America will lose out as less visitors will mean less jobs for them and less money being going into the economy.

[Steve]

Yes they do have to be careful, the way I see it is, that at the moment travellers are not happy to pay the increases in airport taxes but many of the airlines are still offering some good rates at certain times so it still generates the interest to go to the US but as they keep pushing up the cost with things like APD and this new tax more and more people may be priced out of the market. After all, don't forget if it wasn't for "Sir Freddy Laker" who pioneered low cost transatlantic flights, the US was only pipe dream for most except for the upper earning folks of this country. He paved the way for cheaper airline travel and the rest is history. The key thing here is "Cheaper Flights" once flights no longer fall into this category then we may see a return to the old days and no matter how much the US advertise to attract more visitors they ain't gonna come. I know $10 isn't much but once added to all the other taxes and increased fuel charges it does represent a significant increase for a family of 4.

[JAF]

Steve I agree with your reply.

This has come up on another forum and I posted a comment saying what I thought and have been told it is only another £24 for 4 people and that will not matter in a budget of £4,000.

Some people do not seem to realise it is not a case of 'it is only $10' it is the bottom line figure which matters and can give you a nasty shock. It could make people look elsewhere. Of course, our government will say it is not us adding the $10 and the Americans will say we are only adding $10 per person forgetting that it is the final total people look at.

[Steve]

Yes, it may only be $10 but coupled with everything else it does mount up. I was trying to find some info on the historical rates of airport duty and surcharges over the last 5 - 10 years. I wanted to see just how much extra we are paying now compared to then.

I still believe that this tax is going towards paying some of the massive national debt the US now have.

[kiomuk]

I agree with the comments made, when people see 'tax' and 'surcharge' they shy away and the principle becomes more important than the amount.

Undoubtedly this will turn people off going to the US.


Keith

[kiomuk]

Yes, it may only be $10 but coupled with everything else it does mount up. I was trying to find some info on the historical rates of airport duty and surcharges over the last 5 - 10 years. I wanted to see just how much extra we are paying now compared to then.

I still believe that this tax is going towards paying some of the massive national debt the US now have.
Hi Steve

An explanation of the duty can be found here. Doesn't have all rates but mentions date of key changes so it might help/

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=589&pagetype=90&pageid=2449

Keith

[Steve]

Thanks Keith, yes it does show when these taxes were introduced, I seem to think when I first started to travel to the US back in 1990 the taxes and surcharges were around £40!! just shows how times have changed.

Countdown clock is looking good Keith..... <:widegrin