Presidents Message

I’ve always felt that travel is one of the best ways of bringing people together, whether it’s families or people of different cultural backgrounds. Learning about our friends and neighbors, their differences and commonalities, is the shortest path to tolerance and understanding.

That said, travel isn’t as easy as it used to be. New regulations seem to crop up every month. Do I need a passport if I’m driving to Rocky Point? What about if I’m flying? The answers, for now, are “no” to the first question and “yes” to the second. The backlog of passport applications last year contributed to a great number of people having to abandon or postpone their travel plans, creating a big national travel headache.

So, what’s on the horizon? For now, we encourage all travelers who are even contemplating some form of foreign travel to get a passport. To quote from that quintessential American art form, the Western, Woodrow Call, in Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove once said, “Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” A passport is the most secure form of identification for foreign travel. You can apply for one at any U.S. Post Office. Be sure to stop by one of our AAA offices for a passport photo which is required with the application. While you’re there, we can also arrange an international driver’s permit to operate a vehicle in a foreign country. 

While we know that it’s a challenge for Americans traveling abroad to keep up with the regulations, what of foreign visitors trying to visit the United States? A report by the Travel Industry Association found that 70 percent of those applying for a visa did not receive one — 40 percent because they abandoned the process partway through. According to the same report, the United States has experienced a 17 percent decline in foreign visitors since 2001.

The reasons for the decline may be surprising. Most say they just plain feel unwelcome, and it’s too difficult a process to get here. The good news is, once they’re here they have a more favorable opinion of the United States and its people than they did before they came.

So what can we do to turn the tide? In our view, it is important to find a way to enhance border security while still facilitating travel between the United States and the rest of the world. We at AAA will do our best to keep you informed on the latest travel developments. 

In the meantime, we’ll be happy to help you plan your travels near and far, and give you tips on getting your vacation off to a smooth start. Happy travels.