CrossSphere Supports Biometric Passport Deadline Extension

April 26, 2004

CrossSphere Supports Biometric Passport Deadline Extension
Lexington, Ky. – In an April 21 letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the National Tour Association expressed its support of a Bush Administration proposal to extend the deadline for Visa Waiver Program nations to distribute biometric passports to their citizens.

Currently, the twenty-seven visa waiver countries face an October 26, 2004 deadline for compliance. It is extremely unlikely that any of the countries will be able to meet this deadline.

In the letter to Chairman Sensenbrenner, signed by NTA Chairman Mitch Sussman, CTP, and President Hank Phillips, CTP, the association urged the House Judiciary committee to consider extending the current deadline to December 30, 2006.

"The National Tour Association continues to support a secure travel experience for all inbound travelers to the United States," the letter said.

The National Tour Association is an organization of nearly 4,000 tourism professionals from 20 countries representing the packaged travel industry. NTA provides unsurpassed business opportunities, knowledge and information to businesses involved in tour operator packaged travel. NTA also serves as a consumer advocate through its code of ethics, stringent membership requirements and education. For more information, visit http://preseason.ntaonline.com/www.ntaonline.com

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