Travel News                                                         Motorcoach Industry Monitors Approach to Bus Passenger Safety A bill has been introduced to the Ohio Senate (SB 84) by Sen. Mark Wagoner of Toledo that would change the Revised Code to require universities and colleges to purchase, lease, rent or charter buses with passenger restraints, or to have their university-owned buses and shuttles equipped with passenger restraints within a three-year period. Passenger safety is a priority for motorcoach operators, who continue to take measures to ensure the safety of their passengers.  However, this legislation assumes coaches with passenger restraints are available today.  They are not.  Bus companies and tour operators that wish to offer transportation to Ohio colleges and universities would be forced to update their fleets to include passenger restraints.  These costs would be significant in addition to the time that their buses would be out of commission while being retrofitted with passenger restraints. Retrofitting a bus with passenger restraints would cost approximately $200 to $250 per seat and $12,000 to $15,000 per coach.  A new set of seats with passenger restraints would cost roughly $30,000 per coach.  Unlike when the American Disabilities Act required coaches have wheelchair access, federal funds are not a part of this bill and would not be available to offset costs to the motorcoach companies.  A three-year grace period would apply to buses owned by universities and colleges; however, the grace period does not currently apply to vehicles rented or leased. The Ohio Travel Association has already met with the bill’s sponsor and will continue to protect the interests of our members as this issue is debated.   Travel Industry Leaders Meet with President Obama Travel industry leaders met with President Obama last month to discuss the tourism industry’s ability to strengthen the economy.  White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, “The president believes it’s important to have a strong tourism industry and that he would encourage people to travel.”  These were reassuring words following the president’s remarks about corporate junkets, which further contributed to the public perception of business travel.   Travel Restrictions to Apply Beginning in June The U.S. Department of State recommends that travelers act now to secure travel documents that will be required for all land, air and sea border points beginning June 1, 2009.  The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires that all U.S. citizens must present a government-approved document denoting both identity and citizenship when re-entering the U.S from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean region.  A list of all documents is available at www.getyouhome.gov.