Caribbean officials who fear a new passport rule will seriously harm its $2.6 billion tourism industry are lobbying to delay the move.
The proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require Americans traveling to the Caribbean to have a passport starting 1 January of 2006.
Mexico and Canada, by comparison, have until the start of 2008 to require the new passports.
The Caribbean’s 27 countries rely on American tourists, with market share often in the 80s, according to Caribbean officials.
The rule if enforced will make the Caribbean uncompetitive with other destinations such as Mexico, say tourism officials.
Report by David Wilkening
