US cruisers get passport extension

By Cliodhna McGowan, cliodhna@cfp.ky

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The United States Congress has delayed the implementation of a law that would have required US citizens travelling on cruise ships visiting the Caribbean and Mexico to have passports.

The law, which was most recently set to take effect on 8 January, 2007, has been postponed until as late as 1 June 2009 with respect to Americans travelling by land or sea.

However, air travel is seemingly unaffected by the recent amendment to the law. So, under the current law, US citizens who are air travellers to the Caribbean still need a passport by 8 January 2007 to get back into the US.

The passport requirement, knows as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, are part of US Homeland Security measures aimed at tightening border controls.

The news of the postponement of the measure that could have had serious adverse effects on Cayman’s cruise tourism industry next year elated Tourism Minister Charles Clifford.

“I welcome the move by the US government to postpone the implementation deadline of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative,” Minister Clifford said in a press statement issued by the Department of Tourism on behalf of the Ministry.

“I have worked diligently along with other tourism allies to effectively lobby the US to reconsider its policies,” he said.

“However, as the amendment excludes the critical component of air travel, the postponement is an important but partial victory.”

According to statistics from the Department of Tourism and Immigration, the vast majority of the Cayman Islands’ US air arrivals – at least some 75 to 80 per cent – currently possess passports.

However, the release stated that the Cayman Islands firmly believes that everything that can be done must be done to achieve a level playing field for all forms of tourism travel within the western hemisphere.

Mr. Clifford said that the approximately 20 to 25 per cent of affected air arrivals is a very significant portion. “The US is a key market for these islands. We are clearly interested in ensuring that all legitimate travellers who wish to visit from the US enjoy the unfettered ability to do so.”

Although an exact date has not been set for this new postponement of the deadline relating to land and sea travel, the US Congress has agreed to relax the January 2007 implementation date allowing for implementation to occur as late as June 2009.

The International Council of Cruise Line’s President Michael Crye said, “The cruise industry applauds Congress’ efforts to increase security at our borders but to do so reasonably. We will continue to work with the government to raise awareness of the requirements and encourage the travelling public to secure proper identification”.

Minister Clifford pledged to continue to lobby on the issue.

“Security provisions which are not uniformly applied may only serve to deter legitimate travellers and create further challenges for air–based travel. I will continue to lobby as I have in the past year, to achieve a truly level playing field for travel within the region.

“We remain optimistic that the US Government will give further consideration to adopting a uniform approach to the implementation of the WHTI, which is inclusive of air travel.”

The Minister of Tourism has worked with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation in lobbying on this issue and the original January 2006 implementation date was put back by one year to January 2007. In July of this year Mr. Clifford and Permanent Secretary with the Ministry of Tourism Gloria McField–Nixon visited Capitol Hill where they further lobbied along with the International Council of Cruise Lines.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism notes in the press release that the Cayman Islands continues to vigilantly respond on all fronts.

“The Department of Tourism is working with its industry partners to advise potential US visitors through points of sale such as travel agents and websites, that a passport will be required for future travel to the region,” the release stated.