A prominent travel company says Canadians are booking vacation packages at nearly the same rate as they did before the pandemic, and that Mexico is the number one holiday choice.
“redtag.ca is excited by the promising numbers that have emerged for travel over the past six months, with travellers ready to see the world again and booking higher-end experiences,” company officials said in a press release. “As one of Canada’s leading travel companies, redtag.ca continues to prioritize customer service in order to provide Canadians with the best booking journey possible.”
The latest figures from StatsCan show that in June of this year, 571,700 Canadians took trips overseas. That’s nearly ten times the number (61,200) who travelled overseas in June, 2021. It’s also nearly three quarters (73.2%) of pre-pandemic travel overseas.
Canadian residents returned from nearly 2.0 million trips to the United States in June 2022, StatsCan said. That’s more than six times the number recorded in June 2021 (310,900), and 56.9% of the pre-pandemic level from June 2019.
Redtag.ca said recent studies show that it’s not just about going on a fabulous trip or even how we travel, but why we travel. More than ever, travellers understand the importance of travel as a source of intentional relaxation and connection with loved ones, whether that means going on a big adventure or lying by the beach, officials said.
“Remarkably, with redtag.ca, vacation packages are almost back up to 100% compared to 2019, while cruises have seen an increase of 300%. The pent-up demand for travel continues with Canadians booking up to 6-months in advance to secure their preferred air, accommodations, and itineraries. Additionally, consumers are motivated to book now to avoid paying more later as pricing potentially increases and are more willing to invest in more luxurious experiences for their return to travel.”
JIM BYERS PHOTO
redtag.ca said it’s seeing a spike in group vacations and multi-generational family trips to popular Caribbean destinations. Mexico continues to be the number one selling destination for Canadians, with Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Las Vegas closely trailing behind. During the month of July, redtag.ca ran their Christmas In July Sale, which showed Cancun (Mexico) as the top booking destination overall, followed by Punta Cana (Dominican Republic).
redtag.ca responded to the demand with a summer promotion on group travel where travellers can pay for their group vacation with a monthly payment plan at 0% interest and be entered for a chance to win up to $25,000 in cash back for their trip. The offer started in July and runs until August 31, 2022.
With the high season for Canadian travel just around the corner, redtag.ca is working on new partnerships with other trending destinations such as Jamaica, Barbados, Orlando, and Texas to bring travellers the best selection for their fall and winter getaways.
