ABTA is to begin an awareness raising campaign in
September to ensure children going to the US during October’s half-term break
are not refused entry because they don’t have a passport.
A deadline of October 26, the first
Tuesday of the autumn half-term, has been set by US authorities for machine
readable passports for entry into the US. It means every individual has to have
their own passport.
But it is estimated there could be up to 200,000 children
in the UK who still share their parents’ passports.
An ABTA spokeswoman said the campaign, which will be
through consumer and trade media, will be timed to coincide with the start of
the school year, when half-term holidays are on parents’ minds.
ABTA has already given agents information about the
changes, but this last-ditch attempt is intended to ensure there are no
disappointed kids – or parents. A Passport Agency spokeswoman said meetings had
been held with the trade.
“A lot of travel agents have been very proactive,” she
said.
She added: “At the last meeting there seemed to be
some evidence that bookings were being affected because people don’t want the
additional expense of getting passports or visas, but we have had more passport
applications this year so there is evidence of people taking action.”
VisitUSA chairman Matt Bates said the US market is currently
19% up on last year.
He said VisitUSA has been putting out reminder
messages to travellers through the media which have been effective.
Federation of Tour Operators
director general Andy Cooper said: “It is the sort of issue that people see but
do not particularly take on board.”