Since the June 1 implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, border traffic between the United States and Canada has dropped, including that of traveling event attendees, reports The Buffalo News. The WHTI requires your U.S. or Canadian event attendees to present a passport or other approved document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the United States by land or sea.
"The economic impact is very significant along the border," Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said. "If you look at the Niagara Peninsula, the Shaw Festival and the wineries are suffering...We are seeing conferences being canceled in Canada because of concerns that people won’t be able to go to the conference."
To address the decrease in traffic, business leaders are advocating better education and more promotion about quick-entry programs such as NEXUS, which offers a quick-entry card to frequent border crossers. Trusted shipper programs could also ease transportation of products between borders.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said that the initiative is not to blame for a decrease in border traffic.
"The implementation of WHTI has thus far been a success, with no significant impact on daily traveler volume or wait times at ports of entry," Department spokesman Matthew Chandler said.
What do you think: Does the new initiative make travel to events in Toronto and other Canadian destinations more difficult for your attendees? Would you cancel your events in Canada or select another meeting destination because of it?
"The economic impact is very significant along the border," Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said. "If you look at the Niagara Peninsula, the Shaw Festival and the wineries are suffering...We are seeing conferences being canceled in Canada because of concerns that people won’t be able to go to the conference."
To address the decrease in traffic, business leaders are advocating better education and more promotion about quick-entry programs such as NEXUS, which offers a quick-entry card to frequent border crossers. Trusted shipper programs could also ease transportation of products between borders.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said that the initiative is not to blame for a decrease in border traffic.
"The implementation of WHTI has thus far been a success, with no significant impact on daily traveler volume or wait times at ports of entry," Department spokesman Matthew Chandler said.
What do you think: Does the new initiative make travel to events in Toronto and other Canadian destinations more difficult for your attendees? Would you cancel your events in Canada or select another meeting destination because of it?
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