The travel industry has reacted angrily to US government plans to charge holidaymakers a $10 tax to visit the country.
The Travel Promotion Act, passed on September 15 by the US Senate, will require UK visitors to pay a $10 (£6) charge when completing an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) document – a condition of entry.
The charge is expected to be introduced by next summer, although it could be in place as early as the new year.
Stowaway Travel director Paul Stowe criticised the US authorities for adding yet another charge on travel to the country as the industry struggles to deal with the poor exchange rate of the pound against the dollar.
Stowe said: “Consumers are paying more in taxes than they are to fly to the US.”
Can-Am Travel managing director Alan Hubbard pointed out holidaymakers were still obliged to fill out the green, in-flight entry form that ESTA was supposed to replace.
He said: “People believe they have done all the official paperwork if they have completed an ESTA. The charge should only be instigated when the authorities have got rid of the need to fill in the green form.”
US Department of Home-land Security attache to the UK Charles Bartoldus refused to comment on the charge in advance of its introduction being confirmed. But he said US officials were working with airlines to get rid of the green card.
Tourism promotion bodies Visit USA and Visit Florida also expressed concern that the additional charge could deter UK visitors to the country.
Visit Florida director for the UK Colin Brodie said: “An additional tax is going to be a challenge when it is tough to get travellers to travel.”
Visit USA chairwoman Kate Burgess-Craddy said the charge was likely to get a green light from the US House of Representatives.