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Passport would be required for Caribbean-bound U.S. travelers
May 27, 2005 01:30 PM EST | Travel | Email to Friend
The new federal regulations would require Caribbean-bound U.S. travelers to carry a valid passport beginning Dec. 31. A driver's license or birth certificate will no longer be enough to get Americans who visit the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama and Canada back through U.S. immigration. Government officials say the more stringent requirements will strengthen border security.
This federal proposal raised concerns among hoteliers and tour operators in some locales with worries that the new rules could cost them millions in revenue from Americans who don't want the hassle and expense of obtaining a passport. This in turn is prompting some in the tourism industry to keep business flowing by offering the $97 fee to travelers for the document.
"We are very concerned," says Ajit Mathew George, managing director at Nail Bay Resort in the British Virgin Islands. "Americans believe it's their right to travel without a passport, and that's been one of the advantages of the Caribbean."
[Read the full story via usatoday.com...]
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