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CHA Highlight Danger of New Passport Requirements

Hotel Booking The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) has released the findings of an economic impact study of the new United States passport regulation that will require US citizens visiting the Caribbean to be in possession of a valid US passport to re-enter the US, effective January 1, 2006. The study, conducted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) on behalf of CHA, considered the market share of visitors from the United States to the Caribbean and the percentage of those visitors that do not use a valid US passport - and examined these figures against total visitor exports earnings in the region, which total US$20.7 billion.

A valid passport is essential when you travel abroad. Although your passport has been issued for 10 years (5 years for children), you should note that some overseas countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period after the date of entry to that country (typically 6 months). If your passport is in its final year of validity, you are advised to check the requirements of the country of destination before you make final travel plans.

Travel Agency The study concluded that in the Caribbean, as much as US$2.6 billion of visitor export earnings and more than 188,000 Travel & Tourism jobs could be at risk. These findings were presented today at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Board of Directors meeting in New York.

Visa Going abroad It's important that you know your passport and visa requirements, which vary greatly depending on your nationality and destination. See below for information that is updated every three months. date, passport and visa regulations are subject to constant change. Please ensure that you check passport and visa requirements directly with the foreign office or the relevant embassy before travel. Foreign Office Travel Advice

Cheap Hotel CHA can appreciate US concern for its security, but cannot lose sight of the impact of the new regulations on Caribbean travel and tourism, which will be a permanent realignment of traffic, with spontaneous, last minute travel significantly reduced, said CHA President Berthia Parle, MBE.

Since many Americans travel often to these areas, border travel to Canada and Mexico, the State Department plans to introduce a new $45 Western Hemisphere passport card next spring.

Flight Booking 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 regions tourism to prepare better.

- Traveling to or from Canada this year Worried about needing a passport Read the latest border crossing information now.

Travel Agent For his part, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of the WTTC said, The United States new passport requirement for the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada is likely to change the nature of regional Travel & Tourism and cause significant hardship for several destinations that have grown to rely on a more open movement of visitors. Of course security is a major issue for nations around the world - and Travel & Tourism must contribute - but government officials must also recognize the economic impact their decisions are likely to make on economies far and wide. The US passport issue is one of those issues that must be clearly reviewed and discussed with Travel & Tourism leaders to mitigate the impact. We deserve no less.

To find out rmation about how to obtain a Passport, please visit //travel.state. passport_1738.html. To find frequently asked questions about the New Travel Document Requirements, please visit //travel.state. cbpmc_2225.html. To find foreign country entry requirements, please visit //travel.state. brochures_1229.html.

Hotel Chicago It is expected that this research will provide the national hotel associations in the Caribbean and their local governments with reliable data to support their lobbying efforts.

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