Some tourism industry professionals expressed relief on Tuesday over a decision made by the US Government to extend by one year the deadline for the implementation of a policy that would require persons traveling outside the United States to present a passport upon their return.
“This provides us with additional time to be able to create the level of awareness with the US traveling public about the need to be prepared to travel not only to The Bahamas, but anywhere outside of the United States,”
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was formally submitted by the US Department of Homeland Security as a means of border protection from terrorism.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Canada and Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document that establishes the bearerﾴs identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States by January 1, 2008.
The new proposed timetable would mean that as of December 31, 2006 the policy will come into effect for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
As of December 31, 2007, it would come into effect for all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
Frank Comito, executive director of the Nassau Tourism Development Board, believes that the policy could have had severe effects on the tourism product of developing countries like The Bahamas if enough time had not been given to prepare for its implementation.
Mr. Comito indicated that before the policy comes into effect, proper planning and heightened awareness are essential.
“This provides us with additional time to be able to create the level of awareness with the US traveling public about the need to be prepared to travel not only to The Bahamas, but anywhere outside of the United States,” Mr. Comito said.
“Essentially that would save them time and the inconvenience of not being able to have a passport ready should they make a short term or impulse type of decision to travel to The Bahamas.”
The initial implementation date for the Caribbean was January 2006, but local officials and those throughout the region had argued that more time was needed.
Earle Bethell, president of the Bahamas Hotel Association, said his organization pushed for fair treatment for The Bahamas and the Caribbean in receiving an extension.
“This is good news because the minute that the Bahamas Hotel Association got wind of this passport requirement and the deadline in particular, noting the fact that Canada and Mexico had a longer deadline than we did, we immediately got the Ministry of Foreign Affairs involved,” Mr. Bethell said.
“We also got the support of the Ministry of Tourism and also our longer arm, which is the Caribbean Hotel Association, to start lobbying. Not that we oppose what the US wanted to do, but we wanted to ensure that we were given the same extension and deadline as those other countries.”
Mr. Bethell said he supports the idea of having proper identification when traveling.
“Our main concern here in The Bahamas is that we tend to have persons who book last minute to come to The Bahamas. Itﾴs good for persons to have proper identification because after all even Bahamians whenever we travel to any foreign country are required to have passports,” he said.
“Americans are given the opportunity to go to many places without visas and passports. I think that the time has come for proper documentation of any individual [who travels].”
Michael Hooper, general manager of the British Colonial Hilton, also welcomed the extension.
“I feel good about [the new extension],” Mr. Hooper said. “I believe that it will allow The Bahamas to continue developing tourism as [it has] done over the last few years when we have had extremely good years and allow enough time for the stakeholders to get the word out to our guests and other people who book reservations to our hotel to let them know what the requirements are.
“It will also allow enough time for the Americans to get their visas and passports in order.”
Although passports will be the document of choice for travel within the Western Hemisphere or re-entry, another document anticipated to become acceptable under travel initiatives is Border Crossing Cards (BBC) or Laser Visas. Currently, the BCC serves in lieu of a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the US from contiguous territory.
Other documents being considered for acceptance under this initiative are the Customs and Border Protection Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program cards.
Perez Clarke, The Bahama Journal
