Have passport, will travel?

Posted by Bridget Lux Jan 29, 2007

According to forecasts by the U.S. government, 16 million Americans will be getting passports in 2007, partly in response to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initative. That’s a record, up from a little over 12 million in 2006. The new rules require Americans to have a passport to reenter the country from Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.

About 2/3 of Americans currently do not hold a passport, which, theoretically at least, provides a hurdle for those who want to travel abroad to destinations such as Western Europe. So, conversely, does that mean that all those Americans who are finally attaining a passport might decide to really utilize it and make the leap across the pond? Perhaps. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen any marketing from foreign countries targeting those with newly issued passports.

Any day, I expect to read a story with a headline like: “Got your passport? Amsterdam luring Americans with deals.” Maybe I should check out an American post office or other spot for getting passports. Maybe the advertisements are found there.

Also, at roughly $100 a pop, I can see how, especially for say a family, laying out several hundred dollars to head to Paris might be enough of an obstacle in itself to opt for a more budget friendly destination, such as Hawaii or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At any rate, its good to hear about all those Americans getting new passports because it means they could start traveling farther away from home. Along with many officials in the travel and tourism world, I think traveling to places a little out of one’s comfort zone is good on many levels. It’s educational for the traveler and generally good for destinations’ economies. And, at the risk of sounding completely cheesy, I think it’s probably our one hope for moving toward world peace.