New passport rules to kick in next week

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Flying down to some Caribbean island for fun in the sun? Better bring a passport.<br/><br/>Starting next Tuesday, Americans will need that little blue booklet, rather than

Tuesday, January 16th 2007, 6:44 pm

By: News On 6

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Flying down to some Caribbean island for fun in the sun? Better bring a passport.

Starting next Tuesday, Americans will need that little blue booklet, rather than just a driver's license. The change also applies for those visiting Canada and Mexico by air.

The move is aimed at increasing security along America's borders. But it's not sitting well in the affected islands, where a study shows more than $2.5 billion in tourism revenue could be lost. There's concern people won't want to pay 97 dollars for a passport.

Then again, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are licking their chops. They're exempt from passport rules because they are American territories. Americans heading to the Caribbean on a cruise have until next year before they'll need to carry a passport. The same goes for folks driving north or south of the border.