Travel Conqueror

Travel Industry Needs Fingerprints

Ever since 9/11, Uncle Sam has been as tough on the tourism industry as he’s been on terrorists. The latest initiative, which would call for “all foreigners” leaving the United States to give “digital fingerprints” has many industry leaders saying “enough is enough”.

The proposal does not say where airlines must collect fingerprints — at airport check-in counters, departure gates or kiosks somewhere in between. But the government estimates the undertaking will cost airlines $2.3 billion over 10 years, a U.S. homeland security official said.

The overall economic impact on companies, passengers and the government is expected to exceed $3.5 billion, industry lobbyists said, at a time when carriers are struggling with safety concerns, high fuel costs and passenger complaints.

Travel execs are not only worried about additional costs, many are expressing concern about how the fingerprinting will cause interminable delays at already slow moving airports. The proposal has now entered a 60 day comment period, where many voices will weigh in on the initiative.