US passport rule could hurt

The US Department of Homeland Security this month announced new rules that mean Americans used to travelling to the islands with a driver’s licence or birth certificate would have to have passports — something many do not have.

"It’s been so easy to travel here that this will definitely impede visitor flows," said Paul Pennicook, head of the state tourism board of Jamaica, where more than half of US tourists enter without passports.

"The Americans may just say ‘what the hell’ and go somewhere else," said Godfrey Dyer, head of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association.

US visitors represent the region’s largest tourism market, accounting for 53 percent of last year’s almost 22 million visitors, excluding cruise ship passengers, according to the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organisation. An estimated 60 million Americans have passports.

Under the new Homeland Security regulations, Americans returning from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America must show passports starting December 31, 2005. But those returning from Canada and Mexico have to show passports starting December 31, 2006.

Caribbean officials stress they are not opposed to the border-tightening measures but say the extra year for Canada and Mexico gives their competitors an edge in attracting Americans without passports.

The Bahamas Hotel Association president said the earlier start date for the Caribbean would hurt visitor arrivals by discouraging "impulse travellers" who book last-minute trips and do not have passports.

"The implementation timetable presents the industry ... with a huge challenge," said Earle Bethel. "We’re not against the measure in the least, but we’d like to be given the same time as Canada and Mexico."

To avoid losing ground, some tourism leaders are calling for intense lobbying to pressure the United States for more time to raise awareness about the passport requirement, which comes as the region continues to struggle to recover from a slowdown in travel after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Others are taking a more creative approach.

The Jamaica-based resort chain SuperClubs announced it would cover the cost of getting passports — about US$100 each — in all-inclusive holidays booked for next year.

"We wanted to take away the hassle so people who want to come can," vice president Zein Nakash said.

Concerns the measure might hinder cross-border commerce prompted US president George W Bush to order a review of the plans, saying it must be more flexible.

The plans could include the use of unnamed "additional documents" still being considered, but the passport would remain "the document of choice" for re-entry, according to a Homeland Security information sheet. Some Caribbean countries like Barbados already require passports from Americans.

A spokesman at the US Embassy in Kingston doubted the plan would hurt travel to the Caribbean, famous for its white-sand beaches, lush vegetation and diverse culture.

"When people love a place, they will go there," Glenn Guimond said.Several US tourists agreed.

"Jamaica has its own unique charm and vacation value to attract her fair share of travellers," said Mark Bayer, 51, of Reading, Pennsylvania, who is planning to visit the island with his family in July. He and his wife have passports but there three adult children do not.

Amber Peleska, 23, travelled to Montego Bay resort town without a passport for her honeymoon but called the requirement a good idea. "I think it’ll make things a little safer with terrorism and all," said Peleska, a travel agent from Omaha, Nebraska, who said she was planning to get a passport.