How to increase tourism to America? Tax the tourists!

Foreign tourism is down.  According to the U.S. Travel Association, the country welcomed 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors last year" than a decade ago.  (Link here.)  In response, President Obama singed a bill into law that creates a public-private partnership to promote U.S. tourism.  (Link to story here.)

Give credit where credit is due . . . Obama isn't using tax dollars to pay for this and promotion of tourism should result in a net economic benefit to the country.

But where is the public portion of the partnership's funds coming from?  A new tax, of course.  A $10.00 per head tax on those very same foreign travelers this campaign is trying to attract.

Brilliant.  Just brilliant.  

Here's the text of the first ad . . . "We're out of money so come to America and give us yours.  Thanks."