You Know it's Bad When the French...

are making fun of your tax policies! Today, I read an article in France-Amerique, "To promote tourism, the Americans want to... tax tourists".

The Travel Promotion Act of 2009, currently a Senate bill, would tax each U.S. visitor $10 and then use the funds to promote the U.S. as a choice tourist destination. To help them, since I'm a marketing professional, I've offered a complimentary sample advertising campaign below:

Scene imagery: Goofy, fat American in jeans and tennis shoes pictured at one of our finest cuisine destinations, a drive-thru.

Copy: "Hey all y'all foreigners, we really want your tourism dollars, so please come visit! Be sure to speak English 'cuz if you don't, we'll just talk louder. Also, try not to be shocked at how big we are -- we're not fat, we're just big boned.

You're going to have so much fun here. Oh yeah, one more thing -- we've designed a program to promote our country that, well... you're going to pay for. See you soon! "

This is like me invoicing my clients for my marketing and promotional costs. Very, very stupid. Shocking, in fact. What could possibly be more stupid than taxing the very tourists you're trying to attract?!! The only explanation that I can muster is a "miscommunication." Perhaps the conversation went something like this:

Senator X-D: "My constituents are suffering decreased business and civil revenue due to a decline in tourism. We should figure out a way to increase tourism... so I can get re-elected. Uh... did I say that last part out loud?"

Senators Y-D, Z-D, A-D and B-D: "Yeah, we just heard our favorite word, 'increase'! This is perfect: we can raise tax revenue without taxing our constituents! What could be wrong with that?"


I love how the article author writes (translated, of course), "The US Travel Association doesn't find it ironic that it's trying to finance a campaign with dollars from the very people it's trying to attract. Instead, it insists that other countries are doing it so they should, too." Did anyone actually determine if this worked in those countries before proposing it? Possibly consider offering any value-add to those coming here? Here's the scarier question: do they even care?

I smell yet another typical big government, big spending move to create yet another office employing people who aren't compensated based on performance. They just spend -- they don't have to create a budget and likely have no accountability for results.

Bottom line: I stand by my recommendation that all running for office (i.e., using our tax dollars) should have to have taken and earned an A in accounting, finance and economics before becoming eligible.

Wine pairing: French rosé, of course! It's hot and this is the perfect summer sipper. Pair it with some olives, Parmesan cheese and a pretty sunset.