The temporary easing of the US passport requirement for US citizens to have passports for international air travel, is good news for the entire Caribbean region.
The United States has temporarily eased the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passport requirement for its citizens travelling to or from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda because of delays in processing times.
‘The Cayman Islands’ focus on, and investment in, the family market these past few years is producing solid results and some of the tourism industry’s larger private sector partners have indicated to the DoT that they will experience a reasonably strong summer for family bookings,’ Tourism Minister Charles Clifford said.
‘So, in as much as our summer market has a high proportion of families travelling, the easing of the WHTI is useful; it means families will have one less thing to worry about when planning their vacation.
While the new move may be positive for Cayman’s tourism industry, visitors would have to have applied for the passport already to get here, explained the Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s Executive Director Ken Thompson. Those who have not applied should not expect to be accommodated, advisories state.
‘It might prevent some cancellations,’ Mr. Thompson said, ‘But I don’t really see where it will have a major or even minor impact on us here.’
‘Any relief of passport restrictions for tourists visiting the Caribbean is welcome, although a huge backlog of the processing of US passports has been a deterrent to summer vacationers who have already decided to vacation in the US,’ said Jean Cohan, vice-president and general manager of the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Whether the WHTI is having an impact on the Cayman Islands’ stay-over tourism in general remains to be seen, Mr. Clifford said.
‘While we continue to monitor its effect, we are waiting to have the full 12 months of 2007 to evaluate the situation as, at this stage, it is too early to tell what impact it may have had on our business.’
Mr. Thompson said CITA has not really had much feedback from members that the travel rule has been affecting Cayman tourism.
‘When you talk with various people here, the travel requirement is not necessarily having a major impact,’ he said.
A press release issued by the US State Department and Homeland Security on Friday said the longer processing times were due to record-breaking demand for passports.
The easing of the requirement will only occur through 30 September.
Travellers will still have to present proof of application for a US passport and government-issued photo identification to travel. Children younger than 16 travelling with parents or legal guardians will be permitted to travel with a child’s proof of passport application.
The air travel portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which was implemented as a way of strengthening US borders after the 9/11 terrorism attacks, went into effect on 23 January.
As early as January 2008, the State Department will begin implementing the WHTI on land and sea ports of entry.
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