The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) continues to grow its political muscles as it worked successfully with officials in Washington and major industry partners to win an 18-month reprieve in the…
The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) continues to grow its political muscles as it worked successfully with officials in Washington and major industry partners to win an 18-month reprieve in the implementation of portions of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that affect land travel. SYTA’s victory comes during a record year when the association saw its membership rising, attendance at its youth travel conferences surging, and government officials supporting policies that recognize the value of travel as an important part of a school curriculum.
Originally scheduled for implementation on December 31, 2007 the WHTI bill requires all travelers entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean to display passports or other secure documents. The amended Homeland Security Appropriations bill delays the implementation of the passport requirements until June 1, 2009 for land crossings and arrival by cruise ship. More importantly, it recognizes the value of youth travel and calls upon the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create alternate, more flexible procedures for addressing the unique needs of students and children 16 years of age and younger who are traveling in groups under proper adult supervision.
Sponsored by Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the new bill requires the DHS to ensure that an effective technology is in place to minimize the disruption of cross-border travel once a final I.D. system is in place.
Armed with consumer surveys and compelling evidence gathered from members with major cross-border programs to Canada and Mexico, SYTA urged officials to recognize the special circumstances of youth travelers, especially low-income students. SYTA noted that this segment of the market could lose out on travel altogether due to the increased financial burden of securing passports and the complexity of the process for obtaining proper travel documents. For many young people, school trips to Canada and Mexico offer them their first taste of international cultures. Creating additional obstacles could cause them to miss out on what is often a meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“This is an important victory that reflects upon the growing recognition in government of the special needs and importance of student travelers,” remarked Michael Palmer, executive director for SYTA. “Travel can be a life-altering experience that teaches our children many valuable lessons about the world around them and their responsibilities as citizens. We need to address our legitimate security needs without mortgaging our children’s future ability to compete in the new global reality.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
