Back in February, I wrote an article about the newly created Corporation for Travel Promotion which was promulgated by the Travel Promotion Act.

From the US Travel Association:

“The Travel Promotion Act creates the Corporation for Travel Promotion, modeled after successful programs in U.S. states and other developed nations, with the mission of attracting more visitors to the United States. The initiative is funded through a matching program featuring up to $100 million in private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers who do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States. The fee will be collected once every two years in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization. No money is provided by U.S. taxpayers.”

As noted, $10 of the money goes directly to the Corporation for Travel Promotion, while $4 remains behind for administrative purposes.

The thinking behind all of this is to play catch-up with other nations who spend millions of dollars promoting tourism for their countries.

What are your thoughts?

Do you think we will see the hoped for annual surge of 1.6 million new international visitors?

Note:  Creative Commons Flickr photograph courtesy of Ludovic Bertron