Canada’s Borders Not Opening Soon, Plus Where Americans Are Headed for the Fourth of July

With tourism lagging badly, Europe wants more visitors. I’ve also got news about a VRBO list on where Americans are heading for the Fourth of July weekend, new funding for tourism in Alberta and cruise news from Carnival and MSC Cruises.

Trudeau: Border Loosening Not Likely Soon

Canadian travel and tourism leaders have been lobbying hard for a loosening of Canada’s borders to allow more international visitors. They also want fewer restrictions on intra-provincial travel. But it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen soon.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today said the federal government has to “look very carefully” at any decision to loosen its border rules. 

Trudeau said he understands that Canadian airlines and tourism operators want more international visitors but that he has to consider health issues.

“We need to be sure we’re keeping Canadians safe, first and foremost,” he said. “I understand how difficult this is and how frustrating this is for some people, but we know that re-opening too quickly or carelessly could lead us to a resurgence that might force us to go back into lockdown, to shut down the economy again, and nobody wants that.”

Trudeau said there are “significant” support mechanisms in place for Canadian industries and businesses both large and small, “but we are going to be very careful about when and how we start re-opening international borders.”

“If we move too quickly … we run the risk of a second wave,” Trudeau said in French.

Air Canada First Airline to Stream Content at Home

Air Canada today said it will be the first airline to make their entertainment offerings available to folks at home’ more than 200 titles in all. It’s a cool move from an airline that, I think, has some of the best entertainment programming offerings in North America.

Here’s the release they sent:

Air Canada announced today it is kicking off summer by offering a broad selection of entertainment content free to Aeroplan members in Canada. The carrier is making over 200 titles, including films, shorts and other video from its Canadian partners, available for streaming at no charge until July 22.

“With summer’s arrival, together with respected Canadian cultural partners, we are making a selection of acclaimed entertainment available at home through streaming to all Aeroplan members based in Canada. Through the great content we have curated for our customers, we are bringing summer celebrations to Canadians,” said Andrew Shibata, Managing Director of Brand at Air Canada. 

Until July 22, in an industry first, Aeroplan members based in Canada can stream at no cost over 200 titles, including classic films featuring the best of Canadian and cultural cinema, presented by Telefilm Canada. There is also a variety of content from Canadian cultural organizations, including among others the National Film Board of Canada, the imagineNATIVE film festival, Reel Asian film festival and Prends ça Court. In recognition of Pride Month, the carrier is also offering a wide variety of LGBTQ2+ content from OUTtv.

Membership in the Aeroplan program is free. To become a member please visit Aeroplan.com/enroll.A

Come Back, Auntie Em, Come Back

For the past five or six years, it’s been common to read headlines suggesting there were simply too many tourists in popular European cities.

“Barcelona Too Busy” and “Venice Invaded by Visitor Hordes” have been common sentiments for some time, positions echoed by places like Amsterdam, Mallorca and many other places.

Contrast that with this headline in the Los Angeles Times the other day: “‘Please come back’: Out of coronavirus lockdown, Europe begs tourists to return.”

One could get cynical about this and chortle about how quickly Europe’s attitudes have changed, but this isn’t the time for that. As much as they rightfully complain about hordes of folks from Montreal and Milwaukee traipsing across St. Mark’s Square or trundling into the Louvre on an average summer’s day, the fact is that tourism is a vital part of the economy for many European countries.

France, the Times reported, is the most-visited country in the world, and a nation that relies on tourism for seven per cent of its gross national product. They may not always want foreign visitors hanging around the Eiffel Tower or the Champs Elysees, but they darn well need them.

Here’s a telling quote:

“We want to turn the page, forget this disease, which we have beaten, and get back to normal at Versailles. This is important because we want to say to American tourists: ‘Please come back,’” said Catherine Pegard, who runs the palace (Palais de Versailles). “Versailles embodies the relationship between our two countries, and we are feeling the absence of U.S. visitors.”

I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest they wouldn’t mind Canadians, as well. But, for now, that’s not likely. France and other European countries have opened their doors to fellow EU nations, but, for now, there’s no date set on when North Americans will be allowed in. Given the outbreaks in the U.S. of late, I don’t think it’s going to be soon. And I’m not confident that a lot of countries would break Canada out or put us in a special travel bubble that’s separate from the U.S. Which means, basically, I have NO IDEA when those of us who live in Canada or the U.S. will be invited to tour Versailles or wander the canals of Venice. I can’t see it happening before August, but perhaps there’s a chance for late summer travel to Europe.

Major Stimulus for Alberta Tourism

Three new federal and provincial funding programs for Alberta destination management organizations and tourism businesses were announced today.

1. $4 million – Alberta Destination Management Organization (DMO) COVID-19 Operational Relief Program
   Through a partnership between Travel Alberta and Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), this joint funding program will provide temporary operational funding to nine of Alberta’s primary DMOs serving the cities and Rockies: Tourism Calgary; Edmonton Tourism; Banff & Lake Louise Tourism; Tourism Jasper; Tourism Canmore Kananaskis; Tourism Medicine Hat; Tourism Red Deer; Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association; and Explore Wood Buffalo (Fort McMurray). WD is contributing $1.45 million with a further $2.55 million from Travel Alberta’s budget to help ensure the future sustainability of these DMOs and their ability to support community tourism businesses as they reopen. 
2. $4 million – Destination Canada Domestic Funding Program
   Destination Canada is providing a one-time contribution to Alberta’s four largest city/community DMOs, that are major contributors to provincial revenues and employment. The funding to Tourism Calgary, Edmonton Tourism, Banff & Lake Louse Tourism and Tourism Jasper, who traditionally work with Destination Canada, will support regional promotional initiatives this summer and winter. Destination Canada’s $4 million contribution will amplify Travel Alberta’s own $4 million investment in regional campaigns to responsibly inspire Albertans to explore the province as provincial health guidelines allow. It will also support content creation to drive future visitation to Alberta in spring and summer 2021 and beyond.
3. $5 million – Travel Alberta Cooperative Investment Program
   This grant program, 100 per cent funded by Travel Alberta, supports private sector tourism businesses, municipalities and non-profits through two funding streams related to product/experience development and partnership marketing investment to drive responsible travel and cash flow to businesses. Applications for the summer intake are now being accepted through to June 30, 2020.

Where Americans Are Heading for Fourth of July 

Since U.S. folks aren’t travelling much to Europe or Canada this year, it appears to be the year of domestic travel for our neighbors to the south (as it is for us here in Canada). VRBO today put out a top-ten list of where Americans are booking their trips for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.

1. Florida Panhandle, FL
2. Gulf Shores, AL
3. The Hamptons, NY
4. Hilton Head, SC
5. San Diego, CA
6. Myrtle Beach, SC
7. Outer Banks, NC
8. Gatlinburg, TN
9. Cape Cod, MA
10. Charleston, SC

I love the beaches and laid-back atmosphere of the Florida Panhandle, but in summer it’s awfully hot. Ditto for Alabama. The Hamptons obviously makes sense for New Yorkers wanting to get out of town. And San Diego has amazing beaches and seldom gets super hot. But Hilton Head and Charleston in summer? Really? Do people ENJOY having their shirts stuck to their back in 95 Fahrenheit temperatures and 95% humidity? 

In a related move, some U.S. tourism boards are bringing in special offers to try to lure more visitors this summer.

Cleanliness the New Travel Mantra

My friends at TravelPulse have a good slide show today on 25 ways the travel industry is adjusting to make travel more safe. The list includes everything from UV sanitizing effects to mandatory masks on airlines, so check it out.

Cruise News From MSC and Carnival

MSC Cruises has announced its fall and winter 2020/2021 program, offering more than 90 itineraries in all regions where MSC Cruises traditionally sailings with itineraries ranging from two to 24-nights, plus the third MSC World Cruise departing January 2021. 

Key Caribbean Winter 2020/2021 Highlights Include:

• MSC Meraviglia to sail 7-night cruises from Miami, alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, departing every Saturday.
• *shorter itineraries* MSC Armonia to offer a mix of three-, four- and seven-night cruises visiting Key West, Nassau and MSC Cruises’ private Bahamian destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
• *new homeport* MSC Seaside will head to a brand new homeport, Port Canaveral three-, four- and seven-night cruises to the Caribbean, visiting George Town, Cozumel, Nassau and Ocean Cay, depending on itinerary. more details on this to come.

MSC Cruises also announced a new, comprehensive and enhanced health & safety protocol is being developed in collaboration with relevant national health authorities and with the support of a team of external medical experts. This protocol will cover all aspects of the cruise, starting with the booking phase and all the way through to disembarkation and the return home. It will also include all aspects of life on board and the precautionary measures will ensure the health and wellbeing of guests and crew, including enhanced sanitation measures, enhanced medical facilities and health screenings for guests and crew. 

Carnival, meanwhile, says it has advised guests and travel agents that it has extended its operational pause in North America through Sept. 30, 2020.

         “During this unprecedented pause in our business, we have continued to assess the operating environment and confer with public health, government and industry officials,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy told booked guests and travel agents in a letter sent today.  But she added that following the cruise industry’s announcement on Friday that it would voluntarily extend its pause in North America, Carnival Cruise Line is now cancelling all cruises through September 30.  

“We have watched with great interest as commerce, travel and personal activities have begun to start back up, and once we do resume service, we will take all necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we bring our ships to in order to maintain public confidence in our business.  Nevertheless, we apologize for disrupting your vacation plans and appreciate your patience as we work through these decisions,” Duffy said in the letter.

Carnival initially announced a voluntary 30-day pause in operations on March 13, and has now extended that pause three times, reflecting the public health challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

WestJet’s Swoop Air Promising Fair Fares

Charles Duncan, the president of low-cost Swoop Airlines in Canada, a subsidiary of WestJet, put this statement out the other day.

“It’s been two years since Swoop took to the skies, ushering in a new magenta era of “unbundled” air travel. Since June 20, 2018, we’ve welcomed 2.5 million travellers and visited 17 destinations in four countries on our mission to make air travel more affordable. And now – like you – we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic.

Normally, we’d be marking the day with a big, bold sale, but given the “new normal” we’ve decided to hold off and have a belated birthday celebration once our network has been restored. There will be time for cake and party games; it’s just not today.

As we adjust to the impacts of the pandemic, there’s a lot that looks different, but our commitment to providing ultra-low fares and service to destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, remains the same. We know Canadians rely on access to affordable air travel to connect with loved ones, explore new places or fly south for the winter. #FairFares are here to stay.

This summer, we will be offering service to four Canadian cities with increased frequency: Abbotsford, Edmonton, Hamilton and Halifax. While very different from a normal summer season, the schedule is right-sized for the reduced demand and uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we both reflect on the past and look ahead to the future, we are humbled and grateful for the support of Canadians on our journey to becoming Canada’s leading ultra-low fare airline.”