THIS IS HUGE Trump wants a premium on aviation and hotel taxes

Posted on 04/01/2016 | About United States

Donald Trump has turned his notoriously peripatetic vision to travel and tourism. The Republican presidential candidate is championing a policy that would have non-American citizens pay a premium  “Foreign Alien Travel Tax” on all travel and tourism expenditures.

Trump’s FAT Tax (the precise amount remains undetermined as yet, though Trump mentioned both a ‘FAT flat tax’ and a sliding scale’) would include airline seats, entrance visas, hotel stays, tours, transportation, theme parks, souvenir stores, and potentially even restaurants and entertainment including theatres, and artistic venues such as opera, ballet, and symphonies, art galleries and possibly even “tourist attractions like the Trump Tower.”  Which, claims Trump, “attracts more foreign visitors than all Manhattan’s attractions put together.

“This will be HUGE,” said Trump, who was not specific as to the utilization of the proceeds of the tax revenue, suggesting  vaguely that the additional fees could be used for promotion, the upkeep of the attractions or … whatever.  “Huge. Just huge!” He said. 

Asked how such a programme could be monitored and administered, Trump said it was simple, “You come to this country you have to have a passport.  If you don’t - you’re an illegal - Get outta here.  You wanna buy something you gotta have a passport.  You gotta show it before buying a ticket or a room or anything. Gotta US passport you pay the regular price.  Gotta  foreign passport - you pay the premium.”

When it was noted that approximately 60 percent of American citizens do not have passports, making if difficult if not impossible for a travel and tourism seller be able to distinguish a US citizen from a ‘foreigner’, Trump was not deterred.   

“Easy,” said the Presidential candidate, “you don’t have a passport – maybe show your driver's licence, phone bill - you’re an American – no surcharge.”

“What if a foreign/alien shows a driver's licence or phone bill?” asked Blank.  

“Some may slip through,” admitted Trump, “They’re pretty sneaky.  But there are ways.  They have a look - it's easy - those accents. You can tell a foreigner - and the wall’s going to stop the Mexicans and you know the damn Canadians. Coming over here and living in our space, eating our food, buying our stuff. Just one look – especially in the winter - white and puffy in November – pink and puffy in April.  Who couldn’t spot ‘em."“Let ‘em pay for the privilege - 'specially with  those weirdo dollars - I'd be a trillionaire in Canada with that stuff... And that pretty boy-President of theirs, “Sunny Days …Sunny Ways…whatever!  Hot wife though.  Oh yeah!  I love women.  Nobody respects women more than I do.”

When it was pointed out that tourists generated billions in revenue for the US each year, and that overseas tourists might be deterred by the additional charges, Trump scoffed,  “So, listen to what I’m saying ... that's just it...the poor ones will stay home.  The rich ones will come.  That’s what we want. HUGER revenue from tourists. My FAT Tax will generate the HUGHEST revenue.  Don’t you get it?  

Even Ivanka’s new baby guy gets it!”Approached for comment, the United States Travel Association, Brand USA and everyone involved in  tourism to the US had (an off the record) but curiously similar reaction:

“WTF!” 

Filed 01 April 2016.