New Passport Rules Begin on Tuesday … How Will This Affect Caribbean Tourism?

Prior to the new passport rules going into effect, the Caribbean has been doing a lot of complaining, HERE, HERE and HERE that their tourism will be greatly affected. However, in the United States national security trumps tourism. Will this further impact Aruban tourism?

ATLANTA (AP) — Americans flying to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean made sure to bring their passports Monday because of a new rule going into effect Tuesday that requires them to show one to get back into the country.

Only about a quarter of U.S. citizens hold valid passports, and most Americans are accustomed to traveling to neighboring countries with just a driver’s license or birth certificate, which have long been sufficient to get through airport customs on the trip home.

The new regulations requiring passports were adopted by Congress in 2004 to secure the borders against terrorists.

For all the detailed new travel info requirements from the US State Dept. go here.