Schumer Announces DHS Sec Napolitano Agrees To Work With Him And Canadian Border Authority To Enhance Efforts To Combat Economic Turmoil Caused By Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Misinformation

Press Release

This Past Summer Businesses In Western New York Were Hit With Drastically Declining Tourism Numbers

Published Reports Indicated Misinformation About Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Was A Major Cause

In Response To Schumer Question At Today's DHS Oversight Hearing, Sec Napolitano Agrees To Work With Schumer and Her Canadian Counterpart On An Enhanced Education Campaign

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) today urged the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to engage in a public information campaign in the United States, and work with her Canadian counterpart to do the same in Canada, to combat misinformation regarding the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that went into effect earlier this year. Schumer said that the misinformation among both Canadian and American citizens regarding WHTI travel requirements as they cross the border has delivered a blow to the tourism economy of Western New York that must be rectified.

DHS Secretary Napolitano agreed to Schumer's request, saying that she would work with Schumer and her Canadian counterpart on improving public education for both Canadian and American citizens to combat the misinformation regarding WHTI that has kept people from crossing the border.

According to published reports, the decline in tourism in Western New York is dramatic. From August 2004 to August 2009, automotive traffic in and out of Canada via the Peace Bridge dropped 14.2 percent, or by 94,000 cars. That results in fewer people visiting WNY's malls, restaurants, theaters, and museums. Bus traffic -- primarily tour busses -- has been equally hard hit. There were 3,312 bus crossings last August and only 2,654 this August.

Schumer said that WNY is harmed by both the decline in Canadian tourism in America and by the decline in the number of Americans crossing the border and stopping in Buffalo or Niagara Falls.

"Western New York depends on cross border traffic, and it is suffering from a lack of tourism," Schumer said at the hearing. "Would you be willing to work with me and commit to working with others to get an education campaign on both sides of the border to tell people what the requirements are and tell people that it isn't very hard to cross the border?"

Napolitano agreed and said she would work with Schumer and the Canadian border authority.

After the hearing Schumer said "This is an important step in both improving the economy of Western New York and enhancing security. In difficult times we must be doing everything we can to help the tourism economy and not sacrificing safety, and a public education campaign will go a long way in combating the misinformation that is keeping people from crossing the border."

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