This is another installment of my FUTURE OF TRAVEL series. Today I’m looking at a variety of topics, including closed borders.
For all the talk of COVID-19 recoveries in some parts of the world, and it IS good news, it doesn’t mean we’ll be jetting off to Australia or Austria any time soon. In the words of The Eagles, “I’m stuck on the border.”
The Canada-U.S. border, which is sometimes called the longest, undefended (for now, anyway) border in the world, has been closed since March 21. Only essential goods are allowed to cross, although people can go across if there’s an emergency such as an ill family member. You would think a sudden need for good Kansas City barbeque would be considered an emergency, but I don’t see it in the regulations.
The soonest the border can re-open is May 21, but that will have to be agreed upon by both sides. You can bet His Orangeness down south will push for an early opening, but you also can bet that His Handsomeness north of the border will be reluctant. I can see a two-week extension as a potential compromise, but it’s hard to know. In normal times, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, as rabid a pro-business politician as you can find, would be gunning for an early opening. But Ford has been steadfast in his support of closed borders and has refused to re-open Ontario’s economy too early. (As an aside, and speaking as a former Toronto City Hall reporter who knows Doug Ford and covered politics in Toronto for 15 years, the man has been a revelation, and I salute him for it. I’m not convinced this “Good Doug” demeanor will last forever, but it’s very encouraging. And he deserves a half-ton of credit.)
Things are somewhat more encouraging in Europe, where the so-called Schengen countries that are part of the EU are talking about gradually opening some borders. But Australia seems intent on keeping people out for some time.
With so many borders shut tight, Canadian airports are taking a huge hit. Canadian Press reports the losses could reach $2 billion.
Even if borders are open, studies are suggesting folks want to stay close to home. New data released this week by MMGY Travel Intelligence shows some positive signs that increasing numbers of travellers intend to get moving once the pandemic passes. MMGY has been conducting the Traveller Intentions Pulse Survey (TIPS), commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association, since the end of March to measure the impact of COVID-19 on U.S. leisure and business travellers.
Among the key findings, road trips and travel to destinations closer to home will likely drive much of the tourism recovery once pandemic restrictions on travel are lifted. The percentage of travellers who agreed that they are more likely to travel by car after COVID-19 passes increased in the last two week from 35 percent in Wave II to 47 percent in Wave III. And, the percentage who said they are more likely to travel to destinations close to home increased from 36 percent in Wave II to 42 percent in Wave III. This was especially true for older travellers.
Meanwhile, an Air Canada official is talking about a fairly full schedule of flights by the holidays.
A beautiful Greek island village. david-t-KeTZcPnlIjE-unsplash photo
“I think by Christmas you will see a significant amount of flying again,” said Tim Strauss, vice president of cargo at Air Canada. “We’ll be flying to most places around the world and certainly domestically.”
There may be fewer flights available and more connections than travellers are used to, he said in a chat with the CBC.
There is some encouraging news in other parts of the world. Tourism folks in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico, which includes Cancun, are talking about bringing tourists back in June. And a report at Forbes.com says Greece wants to bring visitors to its shores beginning in July.
