There are reports today that the Canadian-U.S. border will remain closed for another month. Meanwhile, Hawaii has extended its quarantine requirement for incoming visitors from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1. Also, Canadians appear to be having trouble getting good travel insurance. My Future of Travel blog for July 14.
U.S. Border Not Opening Soon
Canadians have made it pretty clear they don’t want any part of an open border with a virus-ravaged United States. The Prime Minister appears to agree.
The Globe and Mail today reports that sources indicate the border will remain closed to all but essential travel until Aug. 21. The current closure agreement ends July 21.
It’s pretty much a no-brainer, but it’s still news. And it still will rankle tourism and travel folks pushing for more open borders.
Of course, not everyone is barred from crossing the border. Trucks and needed supplies can cross by land, and air passengers can freely go from one country to another, although I have no idea why this exemption is in place.
It’s impossible for any of us to know how long the border rules will be in place, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see another extension in August. All the more reason to stay home and enjoy Canada this summer.
(And all the more reason for folks to keep an eye out on Apple Books this week for my first-ever electronic book, which focuses on great, quiet parts of the province of Ontario where you can relax and enjoy the summer or fall. It’s called Ontario Escapes – 19 Great Places to Visit Right Now, and it should be available in a couple days.)
Hawaii Keeps Quarantine in Place
Hapuna Beach on Hawaii Big Island. JIM BYERS PHOTO
This is pretty much another no-brainer, but the governor of Hawaii has extended the state’s quarantine rules.
Under existing regulations, visitors from states outside of Hawaii are required to go into a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, obviously at their own cost. The state government had planned to re-open for visitors without quarantine rules on Aug. 1, but the latest surge in the U.S. put the kybosh on those plans.
The state now says the quarantine rule will be in place until Sept. 1, and, who knows, it could be extended even further.
Tourism is a huge source of jobs and revenue for Hawaii, and summer is a big season for visitors. Which means that a few moronic governors who loosened things to soon and a large whack of irresponsible people who gathered in bars and restaurants and other public places across the U.S. without wearing masks or practicing physical distancing have taken much-needed income away from thousands of Hawaiians. Congratulations; hope you enjoyed those beers, folks.
The Tricky Issue of Travel Insurance for Canadians
A family at the beach. NATALYA ZARITSKAYA/UNSPLASH PHOTO
The Toronto Star has a great story on their site about the problems Canadians are having with travel insurance.
The story says that many Canadian snowbirds are concerned about travelling south, especially to the United States.
Here’s more:
“A May 17 Ipsos poll indicated that only 20 per cent of Canadians anticipate travelling outside Canada in 2020; 50 per cent would not be at all likely to do so.
Undoubtedly, they are influenced by Global Affairs Canada’s ongoing COVID-19 travel advisory, recommending that Canadians “avoid all non-essential travel outside Canada and to avoid all cruise ship travel until further notice.” The ban has meant that Canadian insurers are not issuing travel health insurance for people who ignore the advisory, putting snowbirds at risk for health expenses related to COVID-19 and other ailments,” The Star said.
The Star quoted one Canadian traveller as saying she contacted an insurance broker and was told that they won’t be covered for non-essential travel as long as the travel advisory is in effect.
Those advisories could be lifted soon for some parts of the world, but likely not for the U.S. in the next few weeks. Luckily, it’s mid-summer here in Canada and few of us feel the need to fly south for sun and sand.
Tough Times at Toronto Pearson Airport
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) today announced a workforce reduction of 27% at Toronto Pearson and a “new structure to align with its business transformation and enable more nimble, innovative, and recovery-focused operations.”
These changes reflect a significant decrease in global air traffic, with passenger numbers at Toronto Pearson currently at approximately 1996 operating levels. In April 2020, the GTAA reported its passenger numbers were reduced by 97% compared to the same period of 2019.
The reduction of approximately 500 positions will be achieved through the elimination of approximately 200 unfilled positions, together with voluntary departures and layoffs totaling approximately 300 employees. The workforce reductions follow numerous cost reduction measures the GTAA has implemented since the pandemic began, including a hiring freeze, reducing planned capital spending by $265M for 2020, and temporarily reducing executive and Board of Director salaries. GTAA has also leveraged the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance programs, and provided deferrals for eligible corporate partners.
