The meeting learnt that the U.S. Congress last week amended the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to delay the implementation of the new passport requirements until June 1, 2009, for cruise passengers, but U.S. travelers by air must meet the January 6th deadline.

OECS Tourism Ministers are deeply concerned that the measure will have significant negative implications for land based tourism in Member States as only a small percentage of American travelers have passports.

The Ministers will continue, with their counterparts from Member States of the wider Caribbean Tourism Organisation, in lobbying efforts in the United States.  OECS Member States will, in the meantime, also step up efforts to encourage potential American visitors to the region to acquire passports.