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Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative!
Hi Everyone,
I received this press release from The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) and thought it would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings, they are available on my web site. Best regards, Ray LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905 http://www.lighthousetravel.com ICCL Statement: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (ARLINGTON, Va.) June 9, 2005 – The 2005 Intelligence Reform Bill contained a provision, based on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, that addressed future passport requirements for all U.S. citizens. Under Section 7209, the Department of Homeland Security is required to devise a plan to require a passport (or other accepted document) for all U.S. citizens for any travel they may incur from foreign countries into the United States, eliminating the current passport exemption for travel within the Western Hemisphere. The implementation date is January 1, 2008. To implement the law, currently referred to as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the government proposed a phased-in approach for different regions in the Western Hemisphere under the following timeline: • December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central and South America. • December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air or sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada. • December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings. The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) has serious concerns with these timelines as it does not allow sufficient time for travelers to comply with the requirements, and treats the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central and South America unfairly. The Caribbean is the most heavily visited cruise destination in the world, accounting for approximately 45% of all cruise ship visits. In many instances, cruise passengers traveling to the Caribbean have already booked their cruises for 2006. Currently, the State Department estimates that only 20% or less of all Americans have passports. The ICCL’s highest priority is the safety and security of our passengers and crew, and we clearly understand that the government has a legitimate need to enhance the security at the borders. Requiring a standardized identification document, (e.g. passport) is an important aspect of that effort and it simplifies the process of border crossings to have a single recognized document in place. The cruise industry supported the inclusion of the provision as a policy, but asked that when the government proposed regulations to implement the program, sufficient time be allotted to allow for the public to understand the new rules, and for the industry to be able to communicate the new requirements to their customers, and most importantly, for the public to obtain their passports. There is no basis for treating travelers to the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central and South Americans any differently from others. Implementation of all phases of the WHTI should be delayed until January 2008. Delaying the implementation date will give much needed time to the federal government, the travel industry, and most importantly, the traveling public, to adapt to the new passport program. About the ICCL: The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) represents the interests of 16 passenger cruise lines that call on major ports in the United States and abroad. ICCL member lines include: Carnival Cruise Lines; Celebrity Cruises; Costa Cruise Line N.V.; Crystal Cruises; Cunard Line; Disney Cruise Line; Holland America Line; NCL America; Norwegian Cruise Line; Orient Lines; Princess Cruises; Radisson Seven Seas Cruises; Royal Caribbean International; Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises; and Windstar Cruises. These vessels account for approximately 90% of the North American passenger cruise line industry. |
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