You can't say the airlines are the only ones getting into the add-on fee game these days. The U.S. government has entered into a partnership with the private sector to establish efforts to promote travel to the United States. How will this be funded?

The "Travel Promotion Act" establishes a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate U.S. security and entry policies. The legislation specifies that travel promotion would be paid for by private sector contributions and a US$10 fee on foreign travelers from countries that do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States.

According to a report by the U.S. Travel Association, the United States welcomed 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors in 2009 than in 2000, which contrasts with the decade-long growth in international travel worldwide. The United States was the only major tourism destination country without a national office to support its tourism brand. The goal of the public-private corporation will be to develop a multi-channel marketing and communications program to attract more international visitors and explain changing travel security policies. It is hoped that the efforts will translate into more jobs in the travel and tourism sector as well as an increase in tourism and tax revenue.