WHTI IMPLEMENTED SMOOTHLY, BUT MINISTER TAKES

UNCLAS NASSAU 000137

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN, CA/P DSTAEBEN, CA/PPT FMOSS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CPAS PREL ECON BF
SUBJECT: WHTI IMPLEMENTED SMOOTHLY, BUT MINISTER TAKES
CREDIT FOR DEADLINE "EXTENSION"

REF: 06 NASSAU 1611


1. (U) Following predictions that the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative (WHTI) would be a "category six hurricane"
for The Bahamas (reftel),implementation of WHTI on January
23 came and went with little fanfare and no noticeable change
in the normal flow of tourists to The Bahamas. In its first
week in force, 17,261 Americans passed through CPB's
Pre-clearance facility and only 32 of these American
travelers did not have the required travel document. CBP
also notes easier processing and improved service to
travelers because of the increased passport usage, with no
significant change in the numbers of passengers processed.
Local hotels have maintained high occupancy rates that appear
to be unchanged by implementation. WHTI has, to date, had
negligible impact on travelers to The Bahamas.


2. (SBU) The only confusion arising from WHTI implementation
in The Bahamas was generated by the Bahamian Minister of
Tourism, who traveled to Washington January 24 and met with
U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson, Chairman of the Homeland
Security Committee. Following his Hill meeting, Wilchcombe
triumphantly proclaimed to the Bahamian media that his
discussions with the Congressman had resulted in a "waiver"
of the initiative and an "extension" of the January 23
deadline. Wilchcombe asserted that his lobbying in
Washington and relationships in Congress were responsible for
his success (which neither his Prime Minister nor Foreign
Minister had been able to achieve). This erroneous
information was widely carried in local and regional media,
with Wilchcombe hailed as a regional hero in some reports.
Wilchcombe also promised additional meetings with DHS
officials during the "extension" period in ongoing attempts
to have implementation further delayed.


3. (SBU) Post moved quickly to correct Wilchcombe's
statements, while seeking to avoid embarrassment to this
senior minister by providing local media with facts regarding
the smooth implementation of WHTI and the "common sense,
flexible approach" to implementation adopted by CBP during
the initial phase-in period. Post emphasized the need for
Americans to travel with passports, noted that WHTI was in
full force, and made clear that its requirements had not been
waived or delayed in any way. Charge spoke directly with the
Tourism Minister on two occasions emphasizing the
counterproductive nature of his public statements, which
could sow confusion among American travelers and Bahamian
hoteliers. Despite Post's efforts, Wilchcombe's alleged
victory in Congress continued to reverberate within the local
media. In one case, a story discussing Post's press release
that "no waiver had been granted" included a report that the
Minister was hard at work pursuing "an extension to the
waiver."


4. (SBU) COMMENT: WHTI is likely to have a modest impact on
so-called impulse travel to The Bahamas -- people who see an
ad on television on a cold day and say 'I have to get away to
The Bahamas.' Hoteliers claim they have had cancellations of
larger groups for business meetings or weddings where all
participants may not have passports. Nevertheless, bookings
remain strong for most hotels, suggesting that earlier
predictions of empty hotels and mass unemployment amounting
to a "Category 6 Hurricane" were overblown. Given this
successful rollout, it is hard to understand what the
Minister of Tourism is hoping to achieve by rearguard
lobbying. His real motives appear to have more to do with
domestic politics and looming elections. Wilchcombe's
exaggerated claims may have boosted his political fortunes
for the elections and within his party, where he is seen as a
potential successor to PM Christie. But he has also annoyed
some of his party colleagues who see his grandstanding as
coming at their expense.


5. COMMENT (continued): Post is continuing to reach out to
local media outlets to ensure they understand that WHTI is in
force and that there are no prospects for its being rolled
back, no matter what the Minister of Tourism might be
suggesting. END COMMENT.
HARDT