Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Postponed for Cruise Passengers

The US government has delayed the passport requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative until January 1 2008 for land crossings at the Mexican and Canadian borders and for cruise passengers coming to the US from the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada or Bermuda. They amendment does not apply to those travelling by air, who are still required to have a passport from January 8 2007. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) believes the amendment doesn’t go far enough and has equated it to “a category 6 hurricane” in the Caribbean region.