The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (, Sec. 9) is a law creating the Corporation for Travel Promotion (d.b.a. Brand USA), a public-private partnership tasked with promoting tourism in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. To fund the Corporation's activities, the Act provides for a fee of $10 for use of the

Electronic System for Travel Authorization The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA was mandated by the Implementing Recommendations o ...

(ESTA). Additionally, the Act authorizes a further charge to recover the costs of providing and administrating the ESTA. The

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

passed the bill by a vote of 358–66 in October 2009, and the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

followed on February 25, 2010 with a vote of 78–18. President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

signed the bill into law on March 4, 2010.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the largest federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. It is the country's primary border control organization, charged with regulating and facilit ...

has announced they will levy an additional $4 fee (bringing the total to $14) for visitors to the United States for the cost of administering the ESTA. The reactions of the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

have been critical and suggestions of a similar fee have been raised on grounds of

reciprocity Reciprocity may refer to: Law and trade * Reciprocity (Canadian politics), free trade with the United States of America ** Reciprocal trade agreement, entered into in order to reduce (or eliminate) tariffs, quotas and other trade restrictions on ...

Brand USA

Brand USA A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

(formerly ''Corporation for Travel Promotion'') gets matching funds from the federal government equivalent to what it raises from the private sector, not to exceed a maximum of $100 million.US Launches Corporation for Travel Promotion

Related legislation

On July 22, 2014, the House voted to pass the

Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014 The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (, Sec. 9) is a law creating the Corporation for Travel Promotion (d.b.a. Brand USA), a public-private partnership tasked with promoting tourism in the United States. To fund the Corporation's activities, the Act pro ...

(H.R. 4450; 113th Congress), a bill that would extend the provisions of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which established the

Corporation for Travel Promotion The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (, Sec. 9) is a law creating the Corporation for Travel Promotion (d.b.a. Brand USA), a public-private partnership tasked with promoting tourism in the United States. To fund the Corporation's activities, the Act pr ...

, through September 30, 2020, and impose new performance and procurement requirements on the corporation. The

American Society of Travel Agents American Society of Travel Advisors (abbreviated as ASTA) is a trade association which was formed to represent and defend the business and regulatory public policy interests of travel intermediaries, including travel agency, travel agencies (incl ...

(ASTA) supported the bill. ASTA President Zane Kerby said that the bill "is essential to marketing the United States as a desirable destination for international tourists, conferences and business." The U.S. Travel Association also supported the bill.{{cite web, title=U.S. Travel Hails Bipartisan Move To Extend Brand USA, url=http://www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com/News-Center/Business-Exclusives/Industry-Briefs/2014/U-S-Travel-Hails-Bipartisan-Move-To-Extend-Brand.aspx, publisher=Black Meetings and Tourism, accessdate=23 July 2014 One study of the program by Oxford Economics indicated that the program "generates an estimated $47 in economic benefits for every $1 spent on travel promotion."

References

* EU Ambassador

John Bruton John Gerard Bruton (born 18 May 1947) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States from 2004 to 2009, Leader of Fine Gael from 1990 to 2001, Leader of ...

Statement On The Travel Promotion Act Of 2009 (internet archive)
June 2009 United States Department of Homeland Security Acts of the 111th United States Congress Public–private partnership projects in the United States Tourism law