PORT ANGELES – A potential six-month delay in requiring U.S. passports for land and sea travel to and from Canada and Mexico could benefit the North Olympic Peninsula’s tourism industry, local officials agree.

Terry Roth, general manager of Northwest Duty Free Stores, said the delay will give travelers more time to not only get passports but also to be educated on when they need them.

Air travel requirements and travel by land and sea differ.

“There is no doubt the confusion has affected the number of people traveling, especially the families who must project ahead for the passports,” he said.

Since Jan. 23, passports have been required for air travelers returning to the U.S. from other nations in the Western Hemisphere.

But land and sea travelers, including those on the MV Coho and Victoria Express, weren’t required to have a passport for re-entry until January 2009.

The proposed delay – likely to be announced today – could move that requirement to June 2009.

That affects travel aboard the Coho and Victoria Express between Port Angeles and Victoria, the state ferry run between Anacortes and Sidney, British Columbia, pleasure boats and cruise ships.