Europe appears to be slamming the door on Americans who’d like to visit this summer. But what about Canadians? I take a look at that issue, as well as a predicted slow rebound for California tourism and a further suspension of cruises by Royal Caribbean. Also, a nod to Quebec and Francophone Canadians on Saint-Jean-Baptiste/Fete nationale du Quebec Day.
European Travel This Summer: Can Canadians Go?
Rue Notre Dame, Bordeaux, JIM BYERS PHOTO
TravelPulse Canada, where I work as senior editorial director, has a story out today about how European Union countries appear to be banning U.S. residents from visiting any time soon.
I wrote in this space a couple days ago about how tourism operators in France, in particular someone at the Palais de Versailles outside Paris, was saying the country very much needs American tourists to visit this summer and support the economy.
But the latest spikes in coronavirus cases in the U.S. have EU members alarmed, and stories have appeared the past couple days about how Europe is suggesting that the rumoured invite for Americans to visit this summer has been temporarily revoked.
According to The New York Times, leaders in Europe are working on two potential lists of acceptable visitors, based on how each country handled the viral pandemic. While China, Cuba and other nations are on the lists, the U.S. would be banned by both.
Okay, but WHAT ABOUT CANADIANS?
Well, that’s not entirely clear. I spotted a story at Forbes.com that suggested Canada is being lumped in with the U.S. when it comes to “no thank you” travel advisories. But it wasn’t definitive, and I can’t anything that focuses on Canada’s situation. As is often the case, this little country of ours doesn’t appear to be top of mind. We get lumped in with the U.S. when it comes to a lot of issues, and the coronavirus may be one This is despite the fact that we’ve done considerably better in battling COVID-19 than our friends to the south (you know, the ones threatening to slap tariffs on our aluminum and steel exports, so that Americans will have something else to think about).
I suspect the EU will look at how Americans and Canadians are still flying back and forth between the two countries and look at the relatively small size of the Canadian outbound travel market and stick with their “please stay home for now” position. But wouldn’t it be great for Donald Trump’s ego if the U.S. was barred from sending visitors to the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Vatican in Rome but Canadians were given the official okay? I mean, seriously, how much fun would that be?
CN Tower to Re-Open July 15 in Toronto
The CN Tower in Toronto celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2016.
The CN Tower announced it will welcome guests back to the CN Tower observation levels starting July 15, 2020.
“The health and safety of our staff and guests is our top priority,” said Peter George, COO of the CN Tower. “We are working to ensure every measure is in place to meet or exceed public health guidelines and provide a safe, comfortable, uplifting and exhilarating experience for everyone.” Timed tickets will go on sale online July 1 on the CN Tower’s website, www.cntower.ca.
In order to meet or exceed the recommendations of public health authorities and the Government of Ontario, the CN Tower has assessed the building from bottom to top and made adjustments to ensure physical distancing is achieved throughout the building and guest experience. The guest flow, including elevator capacity, has been reimagined to avoid bottlenecks anywhere they might occur.
Among the measures taken are:
- Cleaned, disinfecting and treatment of our entire facility, including public and staff-only areas as well as our ventilation systems, with anti-microbial shield
- Conducted enhanced cleaning and disinfection of high-frequency touchpoints, using electrostatic disinfectant spray system, as well as hand disinfecting of high-touch and difficult-to-clean areas
- On an ongoing basis, we have introduced a dramatically enhanced cleaning and sanitization regimen
- Reconfigured or eliminated queuing to allow for physical distancing
- Installed floor decals and signage throughout the building and property to reinforce physical distancing
- Reduced overall capacity
- Moved to timed ticketing only
- Implemented a policy that mandates wearing a mask or face covering for everyone entering the building
Timed tickets for the reopening of the CN Tower go on sale online July 1. Visit www.cntower.ca for updates and to book tickets.
No Quick Rebound for California Tourism
I use Aeroplan miles for my yearly visit to San Francisco to see my family.
There were some optimistic folks in the tourism and travel business in the U.S. a month or so ago. But the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in some southern U.S. states, and in other parts of the world, has experts suggesting that it will take some time for the Golden State to get its shine back.
A report in the Los Angeles Times says that California “is unlikely to recover its pre-coronavirus prosperity over the next three years, economists say, even as the state slowly rebuilds from a catastrophic economic lockdown.
The Golden State’s gradual recovery will probably mirror the nation’s trajectory, according to a new UCLA forecast.
“The public health crisis of the pandemic morphed into a depression-like crisis in the [U.S.] economy,” wrote David Shulman, a senior economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast.
The trajectory of the nation’s economy will be like a “Nike swoosh,” Shulman wrote: Real gross domestic product will plunge this quarter — at a 42% annual rate — and then gradually rise, not returning to its late-2019 peak until early 2023.
A top official from the Jamaica Tourist Board told me this week that he doesn’t see his island nation getting back to 2019 tourism levels for at least 18 or 24 months. The head of Air Canada has said he thinks a full rebound will take three years or more, which is what the UCLA economist is saying.
The climb out of this pandemic is going to be long and slow. To use a food analogy, the tourism and travel business is a tough cut of brisket, and it’s going to need a long, long time on low, low heat to get to the point where it’s any good.
Happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste/Fête nationale du Québec Day
Quebec City in winter. JIM BYERS PHOTO
“Today, we join Francophones across the country to celebrate Saint–Jean–Baptiste Day, an opportunity to recognize how Francophones have helped build Canada into the diverse and inclusive country we know today,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a release. “From Girouxville, Alberta, to Chute-à-Blondeau, Ontario, Francophone and Acadian communities will today celebrate their language and traditions. They have stood together for centuries, and this continues today. This enduring solidarity is evident in the ‘ça va bien aller’ – everything will be all right – slogan that has helped bring us together since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Canada’s French culture is something to be cherished, and I’m proud to live in a country that, while imperfect, strives to be as inclusive as possible.
Bonne journée, mes amis; ça va bien aller.
Royal Caribbean Announces Further Cruise Suspensions
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands canceled cruises through Sept. 15 for most of its ships, in accordance with an an announcement last week by the Cruise Lines International Association to suspend ocean sailings from U.S. ports.
The corporation said the suspension excludes sailings from China, which are canceled through the end of July, and cruises to Bermuda, suspended through Oct. 31, 2020, TravelPulse reports.
The move affects Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises. Most of the cruise industry is at a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel restrictions, although smaller cruise lines and ships are already back in business or starting soon. That includes Paul Gauguin Cruises, which sails to Tahiti and the South Pacific and intends to be back on the seas around July 11.
