ASTA calls for US passport service to restart

Saturday, 01 Jun, 2020 0

The American Society of Travel Advisors wants to see the quick resumption of U.S. passport processing to help kickstart the travel recovery.

ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby says agency members’ business is being impacted as clients are holding off booking due to passport issues.

ASTA says many advisors’ clients applied for passport renewals before the pandemic halted the service and are unable to get updates from the State Department about the status of their application.

Kerby wrote to assistant secretary of state Carl Risch, addressing the issue.

"We are hopeful that international travel will resume in the near future. As it does so, the need for a resumption of normal or close-to-normal passport processing will grow in importance."

"Resuming passport processing operations may be a small part of this process, but it is a critical and central one … as such, while we recognize the many challenges COVID-19 poses to the Department, we urge you to make the restoring of passport processing operations a priority," Kerby wrote.

As the pandemic took hold in March, renewals and new applications were halted for all but ‘life-or-death emergencies.’

ASTA members have cited demand for late 2020 and 2021 international travel but fear the inability to apply for or renew their passports will impact revenues.

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

Local spices spike the fragrant air of Morocco. Cradled by the dunes of the Sahara, the Kingdom has been inhabited...

This is Jersey. An island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle...

Our Mission Ecommerce has transformative powers, and we believe everyone should be able to take part. But outdated solutions and...

Intrepid Travel is a world leader in sustainable experience-rich travel that has been taking travellers to discover the world’s most amazing places...

Traveltek is the world-leading provider of online solutions for the travel trade, from consumer-facing websites to call centre applications. We...

Air Transat is Canada’s number one leisure airline. It flies to some 60 international destinations in more than 25 countries...

Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s...

It’s easy to find perfection in Santa Barbara, but what if there was even more of your favorite finds, activities,...

Queensland – where it’s rude not to stare Here in Queensland, there’s plenty to do. But there’s even more to...

Consisting of the three Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island as well as Newfoundland and...

From the beginning, ATI’s philosophy has been “innovation, not duplication.“ Developing specialized technology solutions to connect over 30,000 accommodation, attracti...

At Wilderness Safaris we believe in creating life-changing journeys and have been doing so for over 39 years. Our purpose...

WANDERERS WELCOME to MISSISSIPPI Mississippi is a state for all those who are wanderers at heart. From lush, forested Appalachian foothills to...

Central Florida’s Polk County is conveniently located between Orlando and Tampa, and an easy drive to Central Florida attractions and...

Palladium Hotel Group is a renowned Spanish hotel chain that first emerged towards the end of the 1960s. Currently present...

Classic Collection is where travel expertise and personal service combine to create the perfect luxury holiday. Our travel agent partners...

Arival advances the business of creating amazing in-destination experiences. We provide events, insights, and community for creators and sellers of...