Passport issues affecting Caribbean tourism

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of the Caribbean appear to be losing some of their allure for U.S. tourists.

Americans who flocked to the islands in record numbers until recently are finding new destinations or staying home, leading to declines of more than 10 percent this year in islands including Jamaica, St. Lucia and Grenada.

Governments have aimed marketing pitches at Canada and Europe to compensate for slippage in the American market, which accounts for about 60 percent of the region’s vital tourism business.

“The trickle-down effect is huge,” says Richard Kahn, a spokesman for the Caribbean Tourism Organization. “In the long run, this could mean the loss of jobs throughout the Caribbean.”

A new passport rule has discouraged some travelers. Americans returning by air from the Caribbean were required to present the document beginning earlier this year, although the U.S. is temporarily accepting proof of application because of a backlog.

But even U.S. territories unaffected by the new security measure have seen declines. The number of Americans visiting Puerto Rico dropped 9 percent this January compared to last year, and the U.S. Virgin Islands saw a 7 percent drop.

Some simply want more exotic destinations.

“A lot of the larger islands are reaching that point where their market has been there, done that and is looking for a different experience,” says Cheryl Carter, a tourism instructor at Florida International University.

Terrorism fears following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks boosted the Caribbean’s appeal as a safe, nearby destination, says Joe Goldblatt, senior lecturer at Temple University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. But over time, more U.S. tourists began visiting distant continents.

Some analysts argue U.S. tourism will rebound quickly, attributing the recent decline in part to a sluggish housing market that has cut into Americans’ spending.

But others fear the new passport requirement could haunt Caribbean resorts for years.

“Once an American has now got a passport, the world is their market,” says Alec Sanguinetti, chief executive of the Caribbean Hotel Association. “They can go anywhere.”