According to the World Tourism Organization, last year 76 million tourists travelled to the Unites States
[pdf-link]. A high number of them from Europe. Until now, it is pretty easy: Being European, so far I have been able to enter the U.S. for three months without VISA, just as any U.S. citizen can enter the EU without any problems. Well, this is going to change. And it might help the Democrats.
After September 11, the Bush administration established a deadline until when all 27 countries whose citizens are currently able to enter the U.S. without VISA, have to issue new passports, including biometrical data plus electronic data on the person. This deadline is October 1st, 2004...
...And it is ridiculous: Imagine how difficult the debate in the U.S. is about the introduction of personal I.D.'s [see this diary as an example]. Now, taking the EU as an example, imagine to establish a system for the total EU population (450 Million on Saturday) and the technichal difficulties to issue an adequate number of passports in the last two weeks.
Currently, it takes 4 weeks for a passport to get printed. I just got a new one.It expires in 2013 and it cost me 30 Euro. The new one will probably be more expensive. If only 50% of the EU citizens need a new passport, it would cost them 6.75 Billion Euro plus the amount the states would have to admit. That wasn't realistic to expect to happen on such a short notice.
So what's next? From October 2004 on, I will have to apply for VISA. But not only me. Also every other tourist and every business traveller. Currently, it takes up to 4 months to apply for a VISA to the U.S. and this procedure includes an interview.
If this really becomes a reality, it will be the single most devestating thing to happen the U.S. economy since the first plane hit the World Trade Center. In this highly globalized world, imagine the doors to the U.S. shut and the obvious retaliations for U.S. travellers.
States that depend heavily on tourism, i.e. Florida will be hit hardest, especially in October, which is the traditional autumn travel season for Europeans. So, one month before the Election, tourism and lot of other things breaks down. That migh shift some votes, wouldn't it?
Already the NY Times calls for an extension of the deadline. I seriously hope reason will prevail. It is in nobody's interested. But if not, expect chaos.
So far, I will go have a bath and dream of South Beach, Miami :)