ONSITE: CTO Wants Full Waiver of Passport Restriction Until July of 2009

New York-At a press conference Friday during Caribbean Week at the Marriott, Caribbean Tourism Organization representatives applauded a recent decision by the U.S. government to temporarily relax the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The WHTI calls for all U.S. citizens to have a passport in order to return to the country following travel overseas by air. Now, Caribbean governments are urging a full waiver of these requirements until July 2009, when the rules are scheduled to come into effect for cruise passengers traveling in the Caribbean region.