PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cathy Keefe (TIA)
(202) 408.2183
ckeefe@tia.org, www.tia.org

June 29, 2006

TRAVEL INDUSTRY APPLAUDS CONTINUED BIPARTISAN SENATE EFFORT TO DEVELOP REASONABLE, EFFECTIVE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE

WASHINGTON, DC — The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) and the Travel Industry Association (TIA) applaud Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for their continued efforts to implement a sensible and effective Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI is a massive initiative that would require all Western Hemisphere travelers to carry a passport or other secure identification card beginning January 1, 2008. The Stevens-Leahy amendment, passed earlier today in the Senate Appropriations Committee, extends the new travel document requirement deadline until June 1, 2009 and challenges the government to meet certain milestones prior to implementation.

“It is crucial that we have a reasonable and effective policy for Western Hemisphere travel,” said Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. “We applaud Senators Stevens and Leahy for their continued leadership and for recognizing the importance of this issue for travel, tourism and the American economy.”

“The Stevens-Leahy amendment is a good first step toward developing a reasonable and effective policy that does not hinder travel into the United States and threaten U.S. jobs and economic viability,” said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.

TBR, TIA and other leading national travel organizations strongly support enhanced security measures to protect our nation. However, we remain concerned that the current January 1, 2008 deadline poses a serious threat to cross-border travel between the U.S. and its neighbors within the Western Hemisphere. The industry is particularly concerned about the impact of the proposed WHTI on Canadian travel to the U.S. We will continue working with the Administration to find workable solutions that enhance border security while facilitating the entry of millions of legitimate international visitors.

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