A recent survey of Americans indicates that international travel,
particularly for leisure, continues to rise. A record number of
nearly 62 million U.S. travellers went abroad last year, up 10
percent from 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Interestingly, while the number of Americans who travel outside
U.S. borders is climbing, the number of those

who have passports remains at a low 20 percent.

An estimated 21 million Americans will travel to and from the
Caribbean,

Mexico and Bermuda this year. They are not required to have a
passport – now. However, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 requires all Americans to have a passport
by 2008 to re-enter the United States from any other country in
the Western Hemisphere. The first two phases of the initiative
include the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada and Central and
South America. This will create an enormous increase in demand
for passports.