North Olympic Peninsula businesses dependent on tourism to and from Victoria are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward a new Bush administration proposal to require passports beginning in 2008.
“Please understand that at this point these are proposed changes only. If they are enacted into law, they won’t go into effect until 2008,” said Victoria Express owner Jack Harmon.
The Victoria Express passenger ferry runs between Port Angeles and Victoria from two to four times daily between May 28 and September 25.
The MV Coho car and passenger ferry makes the same run between two and four times daily year-round.
Harmon said international ferry operators are working with the State Department and federal lawmakers to ensure fairness and a smooth transition, if the proposal announced Tuesday by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is approved.
North Olympic Peninsula residents won’t see any changes in identification requirements this year, Harmon said.
Higher costs to visit
MV Coho general manager Wayne Barrett said the entire international tourism industry is wondering what is going to happen next.
“I don’t think [the new requirements] are going to a plus for the tourism industry,” he said.
Passports can cost as much as $82 for those younger than 16 and $97 for those older, plus the cost of photographs, Barrett said.
“So for a family of four or five, I don’t know how many people will pay that much to go to Canada,” he said.
