PRESS RELEASE

January 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Heather Epkins
Travel Industry Association
202-408-2172

TRAVEL COMMUNITY CALLS ON DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO ALTER JANUARY 31 ROLL-OUT PLAN OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE

Due to Insufficient Communications and Upcoming Document Reforms, Changes to Proposed DHS Plan are Critical to Cross-Border Travel and Consistent with Congressional Intent

Washington, DC —As the rhetoric over implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) heats up, the Travel Industry Association and Travel Business Roundtable today reiterated their support for WHTI, but asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to modify its proposed interim procedures scheduled to begin January 31, 2008. 

The travel community strongly supports ending the acceptance of oral declarations to enhance security at the border.  However, requiring travelers to carry a birth certificate is onerous in the absence of robust, advanced outreach to travelers.  DHS itself has argued that birth certificates are unreliable documents that present verification difficulties for border inspectors.  Furthermore, the recent passport crisis demonstrated the difficulties in implementing new documentation requirements.  To limit confusion and the threat to commerce, DHS should enhance security by requiring a government-issued photo ID (in most cases, a driver's license) starting January 31, 2008.
 
"America's security is job Number One for our government and private industry," said Roger Dow, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Travel Industry Association. "Security is not just about our borders, but also about our economy.  We believe our proposed modification to the planned January 31, 2008 implementation moves the United States in the direction of enhanced security without jeopardizing cross-border travel and trade."
 
The travel community's support for WHTI has been strong and consistent.  Moreover, the industry is pleased that DHS and the Department of State have recently announced several initiatives designed to build a 21st Century travel system at America's land and sea ports-of-entry.  The recent announcements by the Department of State that Passport Cards will be available this spring, agreements between DHS and four border states to issue WHTI-compliant Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) and an award by DHS to build the infrastructure to read the passport cards and EDL's are all promising. 
 
"More secure travel documents and the use of technology at our ports-of-entry will allow the United States by June 2009 to greatly enhance border security and improve facilitation of travel and trade between the United States and neighboring countries," said Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels.  "But it is critical that we learn from past mistakes and unveil these important policy reforms in a smart and efficient manner."

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The Travel Industry Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $740 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. TIA is proud to be a partner in travel with American Express. For more information, visit www.tia.org.

The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR), a strategic partner to the Travel Industry Association, is a CEO-based organization representing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry. TBR’s mission is to educate public officials and policymakers about the important social and economic contributions of the travel and tourism industry. For more information, visit www.tbr.org.

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