THE authorization to board requirement imposed on nationals of countries restricted to enter the U.S. is causing a lot of confusion and problems to the local travel industry, especially the airlines, according to Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas.
The ATB rule may have also contributed to the loss of potential travelers to the CNMI because of the tedious process in securing the authorization, he added. “I think ATB has caused a lot of confusion in the travel industry,” Salas said.
“The airlines are constantly crying for help in this area because there seems to be a lot of confusion on how to get an ATB. It’s a huge headache for the travel industry,” he added.
He expressed hope that the Department of Labor and Immigration’s proposal to ease the rules in securing ATBs would be implemented.
DOLI is working on a regulation that would allow citizens of nations on the restricted list to waive the ATB requirement if they have already been issued a U.S. visa, among other considerations.
But Salas said efforts should also be exhausted to make sure that visitors are presenting valid U.S. visas.
Still, ATB is obstructing the government’s efforts to attract more foreign investors and tourists, he added.
“There are potentially a lot of people who want to come. People who want to invest in the CNMI. But if you have the word about this obstruction, the ATB, that is making the government’s work harder,” Salas said.
In a separate interview, Labor and Immigration Secretary Joaquin A. Tenorio said the Attorney General’s Office was still working on the new ATB proposal.
“They are refining it,” Tenorio said.
He said the authorities also had discussions with officials of the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Philippine Consulate General.
“We asked them to give us some ideas on what they would want,” Tenorio said.
MVA wants to allow more Chinese tourists to visit the CNMI, but China is on the list of nations restricted to enter the U.S.
The Philippines is also on the same list.
