Alexandria, VA, July 22 -- A majority of business travel managers across the country are in opposition to U.S. government plans to expedite new visa requirements, according to a survey taken by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives. Fifty-six percent of survey respondents indicated that the new visa requirements would have a negative effect on business travel in general, and a significant impact on their companies' operations.

One new regulation slated to go into effect on August 1, 2003 (originally scheduled for October 2007) will require travelers from predominantly western European countries to undergo one-on-one interviews with consular officials to get a visa if they don't have a machine readable passport. Of the 27 countries participating in the visa waiver program, only a few have begun to issue machine-readable passports. (The 27 countries currently participating in the Visa Waiver Program are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.)

"Our membership is aware that these new visa requirements are intended to provide greater protection at the country's borders." said Association President Mark Williams. "There is no one opposed to the concept of a machine readable passport, which is designed to be near impossible to forge. We're objecting to a new timetable that advances this program four years in the blink of an eye. America's trading partners may need a little more time to get up to speed. The program has not been communicated very well."

Many ACTE members -- 33 percent -- also indicated that they were not familiar with the provisions of the Patriot Act , which has led to other legislation like CAPPS II (a computerized background checking system) and provisions in the US Visit program, which call for collecting biometrics (including fingerprints) of foreign nationals as early as January 1. An equally high percentage of respondents -- 32 percent ---- stated that these actions could prompt a substantial number of foreign business travelers to consider alternatives to traveling to the United States.

"This bring us to two conclusions," said Williams. "The first is that the travel industry is going to have to play a larger role in evaluating legislation and regulations that impact our profession. And the second is communicating those evaluations to the industry in time to make a difference."

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives is in the process of polling it's European and Asian members to directly gauge the impact of these proposed changes.

For more information, contact:
Jack Riepe
Communications Director
t: 610-719-8396
c: 610-256-0124
e: [email protected]