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May 22, 2006:
Dear
OVTA members:
Good
news! The forecast indicates an
absolutely beautiful weekend. Announcements
for the week of May 22 to 26:
- Senate
Votes To Delay Western Hemisphere
Passport Rule
- OVTA
E-Travel Packages
Senate
Votes To Delay Western Hemisphere
Passport Rule
Business
Travel News Online (BTNonline.com)
MAY
19, 2006 -- The U.S. Senate this
week voted to delay new, more stringent
documentation requirements for travelers
between the United States and other
Western Hemisphere countries, including
Canada, Mexico and most of Caribbean
locations.
The
Senate unanimously adopted an amendment
to a comprehensive immigration bill
offered by Sens. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that delays
until June 1, 2009, the requirement
that travelers to the United States
from Western Hemisphere countries
present a passport or other secure
document to gain entry. The Department
of Homeland Security and the Department
of State announced the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative on April 5, 2005.
"We
are grateful to Sen. Stevens and
Sen. Leahy for recognizing the importance
of this issue for travel and tourism
and for demonstrating real leadership
once again," said Jonathan
Tisch, chairman of the Travel Business
Roundtable and chairman and CEO
of Loews Hotels. TBR and other organizations
worry the enhanced security measures
will disrupt legitimate travel and
commerce across the borders.
In
his statement submitted for the
Congressional Record, Stevens said
Alaska "is the only state in
the nation which cannot be accessed
by land without passing through
a foreign country. Alaskans are
very concerned about the impact
this initiative will have on travel
to and from our state."
Stevens
said the 17-month delay would provide
more time to properly test and implement
the new guidelines.
The
delay is a long way from becoming
law, however. The Senate won't act
again on the underlining legislation
until next week, at the earliest.
Even if it passes the Senate, a
final measure will be shaped by
a House-Senate conference committee.
The House of Representatives has
taken a dramatically different approach
to the immigration provisions in
the bill, making it a felony to
reside in the country illegally
or aide an illegal immigrant.
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OVTA
E-Travel Packages
A
reminder to send in information
on any packages that your business
has for the summer. This is
a free opportunity to advertise
your packages if your business has
any. Packages will be
promoted on the OVTA website and
sent out to inquiries received.
NOTE: A package has
more than one item included. It
should have a theme name ie Golf
and Stay Package, Family Fishing
Getaway Package. Ideally it
should have a starting price. To
clarify, this is not an opportunity
to just promote your business or
community - you must be offering
a package. Please send
in your package information by Monday,
May 28th. If you have any
questions, please contact Judy.
Marie
White
Tourism Communications
Ottawa
Valley Tourist Association
9
International Drive
Pembroke,
Ontario K8A 6W5
613-732-4364
/ 800-757-6580 ext. 459
mwhite@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
www.ottawavalley.org
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