77.8 F
Cruz Bay
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesHomeland Security Regulations Could Affect Regional Travel

Homeland Security Regulations Could Affect Regional Travel

June 3, 2005 – Caribbean hoteliers want the United States to postpone new regulations that require U.S. citizens to show passports when re-entering the country from the Caribbean, officials said Thursday.
Starting Jan. 1, Americans used to traveling to the islands with a driver's license or birth certificate will need passports, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced last month. Members of the Puerto Rico-based Caribbean Hotel Association want the date changed to Jan. 1, 2008, said association president Berthia Parle.
More than $2.5 billion dollars and 188,000 jobs could be at risk because passport requirements might dissuade Americans who are used to traveling to the Caribbean spontaneously, said Delphine Rosario, an association spokeswoman.
Though they account for 53 percent of the Caribbean's visitors, only about 60 million Americans have passports.
Almost 22 million people visit the Caribbean annually, spending more than $20.5 billion, according to a study by the World Travel and Tourism Council, Parle said Friday at the Caribbean Tourism Organization Board of Directors meeting in New York.
Parle said tourists need more time to learn about the new regulations and prepare.
"Our position advocates an extension of time for the Caribbean to the same introductory date as Mexico and Canada, January 1, 2008, to allow the region's tourism to prepare better," Parle said.
The regulations do not effect travel in the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name, and the city and state/country or island where you reside.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.