Will proposed foreign visitor fee help or hurt tourism? (Orlando: rental car, sales)

[bentlebee]

ORLANDO -- Politicians want to charge international tourists a new fee to get into the U.S. as part of a marketing campaign.

Not everyone in Central Florida is on board with Washington, saying it could turn tourists away instead of bringing more into the country.

In the slumping U.S. economy, tourists from Canada and Europe flocking to Central Florida's theme parks are one of the few bright spots in the tourism industry.

Elected officials said they want to keep it that way, announcing a marketing plan to charge foreign travelers $10 to enter the U.S., then use that money for advertising.

Will proposed foreign visitor fee help or hurt tourism? - Bay News 9 (http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/9/14/520653.html?title=Will+proposed+foreign+visitor+fe e+help+or+hurt+tourism? - broken link)

[Parrotrosie]

Politicians just get stupider (I know that is not really a word) every single day!!!! OY! AS IF Florida does not charge enough in taxes as it is!!! Holy Cow! Hotel taxes are ridiculous by themselves!!!! Taxes on park tickets, restaurants, sales tax, rental cars, etc.....isn't there enough money generated by tourists already to pay for a marketing campaign?

[annerk]

I just saw some statistics on the news the other day. Regardless of what many of the Brits would like us to think, the entire bulk of foreign tourism dollars spent in the Orlando area is only 10% of the total tourism dollars spent here.

Americans have to pay entry/eixt fees in many countries, I really don't think it's going to deter anyone from visiting Mickey Mouse.

My concern is that the money isn't going to be actually spent on advertising, and if it is, it won't be spent wisely.

[Parrotrosie]

How are the taxes in those other countries tho? Are they as high as here? Do we want to spend that sort of money trying to attract visitors if our tax structure alone may be prohibitive? There are so many other places IN Europe for Europeans to visit...would they want to visit here...now that there is Disney Paris and Disney tokyo?

I agree, will it be used properly and wisely....that is the question...Ten bucks is not really that much, but when you see it as a separate line item, it's just one more thing. Add that to an entire group or family it can add up as well.

[annerk]

In most countries the GST is a lot higher than it is here in the US.

Often they want to visit here for the warm weather.

[salmanalk]

10 bucks a person is neither here nor there in what will be spent on a 2 week vacation!