A new U.S. policy requiring its citizens to secure passports by January 1, 2006 if they plan to travel to countries like The Bahamas, could end up hurting this nationﾴs tourism product, a senior tourism official said on Wednesday.
U.S. citizens and foreign nationals will have to present valid passports or other secure, accepted documents ﾖ like a border crossing card in the case of Canada and Mexico ﾖ to enter or re-enter the United States.
An estimated 60 million Americans ﾖ about 20 percent of the nation’s population ﾖ have passports.
The new rules, which are the latest effort to deter terrorists from entering the United States, apply to Americans traveling from The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central and South America.
The goal is to strengthen border security and expedite international travel, according to officials.
ﾓBy ensuring that travelers possess secure documents, such as the passport, our immigration inspectors will be able to conduct more effective and efficient interviews,ﾒ Homeland Security Acting Under Secretary for Border Transportation Security, Randy Beardsworth said in a press release
As it stands, U.S. citizens as well as residents of other countries in the Western Hemisphere are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United States when traveling within the Western Hemisphere.
But the U.S. Congress recently moved to change all that with the passing of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.
ﾓWe recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general public, as well as our neighouring countries, and they are important partners in this initiative,ﾒ explained Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty.
ﾓThe overarching need is to implement this legal requirement in a way that strengthens security, while facilitating the movement of persons and goods.ﾒ
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said his initial reaction to the new policy was whether such a measure has to be implemented immediately.
ﾓIf you are going to allow for Mexico and Canada, 2008, thereﾴs no reason why the Caribbean should be rushed to comply with the full implementation just to ensure that they have the passports by January of next year. Itﾴs a matter that Iﾴm not sure it is written in stone. Iﾴm hoping that itﾴs not,ﾒ the Minister said.
ﾓI donﾴt think that itﾴs a matter that is going to be resolved by us at this level.ﾒ
Minister Wilchcombe was expected to meet with the Prime Minister on Wednesday and said he planned to suggest that Mr. Christie and his CARICOM colleagues arrange a meeting with the U.S. State Department to discuss the implications of the policy.
ﾓThereﾴs the fact that 20 million visitors come to the Caribbean, that our economies are based on tourism, that many of the hotels in each jurisdiction have already booked visitors for next year, that many groups have already booked, that 25 percent of all Americans have passports to this date and that itﾴs going to take the required education to ensure that Americans understand this new policy,ﾒ the Minister stressed.
ﾓThe problem is we have a country where right next door is Florida where people pop over to The Bahamas just on a thought.ﾒ
Minister Wilchcombe feels Caribbean countries may have been given an earlier date than other countries to possibly ﾓdetermine where cracks might be in the system before being introduced in the larger marketsﾒ.
ﾓIt is therefore important for us to get them to the table and discuss this matter so that our industry would not hurt economically as a result,ﾒ he said.
The new policy has drawn mixed reaction from some American tourists.
ﾓI think itﾴs becoming a necessity with all of the terrorism we have,ﾒ said New Hampshire native, Robert Sporol.
Peter Van, a resident of Rhode Island, agreed.
ﾓItﾴs not a big deal considering that passports are very easy to get and cost only a few dollars,ﾒ he said.
But Barbara Brimelow from Virginia has another view.
ﾓI think that if you donﾴt already have a passport, you would want to go somewhere where the passport isnﾴt needed,ﾒ she said. ﾓIf you already have one, it wouldnﾴt make a difference so I think this might deter some people from coming [to The Bahamas].
Michigan native, Dennis Perkins, shared a similar view, noting that the new policy would ﾓslow things downﾒ.
ﾓIt would deter from our ability to quickly decide to come here, ﾓ Mr. Perkins admitted.
Mr. Wilchcombe said should The Bahamasﾴ attempt to delay the implementation of the new policy fails, the Ministry of Tourism has planned to put in place a few initiatives of its own to cushion what could be a dramatic blow to the local industry.
The Minister was expected to meet with senior officials within tourism to discuss an education awareness campaign.
ﾓWe are going to ensure that we get the information out,ﾒ he said.
ﾓWe already have a wonderful system in our Ministry where we are able to speak directly to many of the visitors who come as a result of our new immigration cards. Weﾴll have to post information packets at airports and on cruise ports to ensure that everyone knows that these things are about to happen.
U.S. citizens currently residing in or visiting The Bahamas who do not currently possess valid U.S. passports who anticipate traveling back to the United States after January 1, 2006 can submit applications for a new or renewed passport at the U.S. Embassy in the capital or at more than 6,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States.
All first-time passport applicants must appear in person to submit their application materials.
Potential travelers are strongly encouraged to submit their application forms and required documentation well in advance of the January 1, 2006 implementation date.
Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
