After months and months of talking about it, the Ontario government has finally approved a “stay at home” travel tax credit to spur provincial tourism. Ontario residents who take a trip within the province in the 2022 tax year could be eligible for rebates under the new “Ontario Staycation Tax Credit” program, which was announced late this week as part of Premier Doug Ford’s Fall Economic Statement. Provincial residents will be eligible for a 20% personal income tax credit on eligible accommodation between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, up to a maximum of $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for Read more

Test requirements for vaccinated travellers entering Canada need to be re-examined, particularly for short trips, says the country’s top doctor. On Friday the Canadian Border Services Agency reiterated the testing requirements for vaccinated travellers entering Canada in advance of the border with the United States reopening next week. But that policy is being “actively looked at,” said chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam in a Canadian Press story posted on CP24 today. “I do think that all this needs to be re-examined, as we are doing with all of the border measures moving ahead,” Tam said in a story Read more

Canadian government testing rules are too expensive for families and are simply “irrational,” critics suggest. The Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable, speaking on behalf of families and the business community across Canada, are asking 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,  which it says disproportionately impact average Canadian families. The Roundtable also is calling on the government to amend the discriminatory child policy for travelling minors. For the average Canadian family, travel is becoming increasingly difficult. The burdensome cost of a PCR test can add Read more

This is the first in my regular “Destination Spotlight” stories, in which I’ll give a quick taste of some places to check out in North America and around the world. CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA This is an outstanding beach town about a half hour north of San Diego. There’s a great, walkable downtown filled with cool restaurants such as Shorehouse Kitchen and The Goods, which dishes out inventive donuts and good coffee. You’ll find plenty of independent shops, including Fahrenheit 451 book store. The Beach Terrace Inn is a fun, boutique hotel on the water. Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park is named Read more

Great news for Canadians who love Hawaii. The state of Hawaii will welcome international travelers under the new federal requirements starting next Monday, Nov. 8. Direct International Travel to Hawaii NON-U.S. citizens traveling directly to Hawaii from an international destination must present BOTH a vaccination records AND a negative COVID-19 test result (NAAT or antigen) within three days of boarding a flight to the United States. U.S. citizens flying directly to Hawaii from an international destination have two options: Provide proof of vaccination OR Provide proof of negative COVID-19 test result within one day of boarding flight to U.S. There Read more

Business travel is on the mend, according to a new study from the World Travel and Tourism Council and McKinsey & Company consultants. The latest WTTC/McKinsey report suggests that, following a 61% decline in 2020, global business travel spending is expected to rise by 26% this year and by 34% in 2022. Overall, they expect business travel to recover to two-thirds of 2019 levels by next year. But the report, titled Adapting to Endemic Covid-19: The Outlook for Business Travel, says recovery will vary by region. In the Asia-Pacific region, business travel is expected to rise 32% this year and Read more