Vancouver Tourism and Travel Groups Decry Canadian Testing Rules

Vancouver tourism and travel officials are keeping the heat on the federal government over mandatory PCR tests.

Together with the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable, leaders representing the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the British Columbia Hotel Association, Vancouver based travel agencies and Destination Vancouver today called on the Trudeau government to remove unnecessary and non-science-based obstacles to international travel, such as the pre-departure PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers, threatening the survival of Vancouver businesses and freezing business travel.

“The PCR test is a major barrier for international visitors who hope to travel to Vancouver and other parts of our province,” said Karen Soyka, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Destination Vancouver. “The combination of testing availability and the high cost of a PCR test further complicates travel for all visitors to our destination.

“We know that the rebuild of our industry will take time and we need the partnership of government to reduce the obstacles to travel so that our city’s tourism businesses can recover,” she said.

The rooftop “Aqualounge” at the JW Marriott Vancouver. PHOTO COURTESY PARQ VANCOUVER

Tourism and business travel has been an economic anchor for the Greater Vancouver area, which has sustained a reputation as one of Canada’s prime destinations for leisure, meetings, and event travellers. As the largest Canadian city located on the west coast, Vancouver is also Canada’s gateway to the Pacific and the Far East – a critical catalyst to Canada’s economic diversification and connection to the world. Vancouver’s prime location has turned into a central hub for business travellers from Asia and the United States.

However, since the onset of the pandemic, business operators in Vancouver who have come to rely on international visitors are facing another winter season of continued economic decline. The federal government’s mandatory pre-departure PCR test to enter the country is leading international travellers to do business elsewhere. Canadian businesses are being disadvantaged compared to their American and European peers.

In 2019, Vancouver welcomed more than 11 million overnight visitors, contributing $14 billion in total revenues to the Metro Vancouver economy and supporting over 104,000 full-time jobs.1 By comparison, revenues fell by 70% in 2020.

Critics argue that Canada’s rules run counter to the recommendations made by the federal government’s COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel Report, which concluded that fully vaccinated travellers should not require a pre-departure test.

“More concerning is the fact that Canada’s travel rules are out of step with the international community, and our American neighbours to the south. Countries including France, Portugal, Germany and the United Kingdom have recognized that requiring pre-departure and arrival tests for vaccinated travellers is redundant and have exempted fully vaccinated travellers from pre-departure testing requirements.”

Any competitive advantage Vancouver might have secured in the lead up to 2020 risks being lost as other countries adopt common sense solutions to facilitate international commerce, officials said.

Many international businesses are finding it too burdensome to send their teams to Vancouver. As a result, businesses in Vancouver’s travel and tourism industry are bracing – yet again – for booking cancellations, with international visitors looking to either cancel or delay long-awaited trips.

“Business travel from the U.S., Asia, and around the world has pretty much come to a complete halt, and that is hurting our cities, especially Vancouver’s downtown core,” said Bridgitte Anderson, President & CEO, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. “Today we are joining the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable in calling on the federal government to get rid of the pre-departure PCR text. Getting rid of unnecessary and outdated travel rules will help Vancouver get back to business.”

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