Posted on 10/26/2006 3:04:52 PM PDT by cll
The tourism industry is bracing itself for a hit in just over two months, when the elements of America’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative come into effect, forcing US tourists to obtain passports to re-enter the country when returning from their vacations.
This week, Mary Kramer, the outgoing US ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, tried to calm fears about the impact of the requirements on Caribbean tourism, but local and regional tourism stakeholders have maintained that the initiative will send serious shockwaves throughout the industry.
Kramer was quoted in the regional media making the point that more than 75 million Americans, the equivalent of over 30 per cent its citizenry, already have passports.
She acknowledged that with tourism being a major contributor to revenue of this region, it was understandable for people to be concerned about the new measure, but said, “It just surprises me that Caribbean nations would think that tourists would not come here because they knew they had to have a passport to go home.”
Kramer also argued that US passports can be obtained at fairly reasonable cost.
American adults pay US$97 to obtain passports, something that Caribbean tourism officials, including Antigua & Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell have identified as a potential deterrent to tourists wishing to travel to the region after the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is implemented.
Industry insiders fear that potential Caribbean tourists may be swayed from plans to vacation in many of the islands since it will be less hassle and cost to travel to Puerto Rico or the USVI or island hop on a cruise. They argue that the new regulations give an unfair advantage to Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands which will be exempt from the passport requirement, making it easier for tourists who do not have passports.
One possibility being explored by regional tourism authorities is subsidising the cost of passports for these tourists.
There is less of an immediate problem for the cruise industry, for which the requirement has been delayed, perhaps until mid-2009. In addition, two bills pending before the US Congress would give states the option of devising acceptable driver’s license type alternatives to a passport. The US Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security have already agreed to the concept of a federal “Passport Card” called a PASS Card, which could cost just less than half the price of a passport.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
Let's try a working link:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
How much does a vacation to the Caribbean cost? Like a once every ten year fee of $97 is going to make a difference to people shelling out hundreds more dollars.
Well actually $97 per person is quite a percentage of the over all trip. It made me choke when we got our passports.
A passport is good for ten years. Less than $10 a year.
I think every adult American should be required to have one. Lower the price or whatever, but make it madatory.
Then require that it be shown to register to vote and cast a vote.
I agree with the voting thing for sure!
It does seem like a lot, but it's good for 10 years. My point was that if people are going to pay to travel, they're shelling out a lot of money anyway, what's another additional $97?
I just went and looked at the State Dept link. They are developing a "passport card", the size of a credit card, that can be used for travel between the US and Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean countries. It has a picture, and an RFD chip link to the regular passport database.
This could be the foundation of a national ID card (which I am in favor of, by the way).
Don't know what to think about this one. I've been living in Europe for 16 years. Been trying but can't get a European passport to save my life. I'd fork over $97 for one though if that was all there was to it.
Passport's a darned handy thing to have.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.