Domestic leisure travel in Canada will soon be back to pre-pandemic levels, says a new report from Destination Canada. But international and domestic business travel aren’t expected to recover for a few more years. Here’s a synopsis of the report. As of spring 2022, with borders open to fully vaccinated travellers and health measures less restrictive in all parts of the country, revenues are forecast to grow to between $80 billion and $85 billion in 2022. Recovery will be uneven, with resort communities performing well, while rural and urban centres that are more dependent on international guests and business travellers Read more

Canada’s largest airline says it anticipated this year’s travel surge and has responded with solid action. Air Canada and other major players in the Canadian aviation industry met today with Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to talk about, among other things, recent airport crowding problems at Toronto Pearson and other airports. Following the meeting, Air Canada issued a statement saying it understands the issues at hand. “At Air Canada, we know every trip is important, even more so today as many are flying for the first time in years to see loved ones or take an eagerly anticipated holiday. We Read more

The minister in charge of Canadian passports says she’s deeply concerned about wait times. She also says she has ordered more work to be done. “I am deeply concerned about the delivery of passport services to Canadians, and the difficult and stressful situation too many Canadians are facing in getting passports in time for their travel plans,” Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, said in a statement today (June 23). “Improving this service is a top priority for the Government of Canada. “I share the frustration of Canadians and want to reiterate that these lineups, waits and Read more

A new list of the world’s most liveable cities puts three Canadian places in the top ten. Calgary came tied with Zurich for third spot, while Vancouver was fifth and Toronto eighth. No other country had three cities in the top ten, although Switzerland did have two. No Canadian cities made the top ten in 2021, so this is pretty cool. The Global Liveability Index is an annual ranking from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that rates 172 cities around the world on over 30 factors, from healthcare, infrastructure, education and crime rates to access to cultural and sports pursuits Read more

Rising fuel prices means those heading out on road trips this year are being forced to make adjustments. A recent survey conducted by CAA South Central Ontario has found that rising gas prices are having an impact on road trip plans now that gas is higher than $2 per litre. Seventy-six per cent of those surveyed say they have a road trip planned within the province this year, while 26 per cent are planning an out-of-province road trip, and 23 per cent are planning to drive to the US. Of those who are planning a road trip, 64 per cent of these Read more

The government of Canada says it’s bringing in new rules to protect passengers from cancelled or delayed flights. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said that, as the Canadian aviation industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and more and more Canadians are choosing to travel by air, it’s especially important that travellers are treated with fairness and respect. “I am pleased to see that the Canadian Transportation Agency’s new Regulations Amending the Air Passenger Protection Regulations are now finalized,” he said in a statement issued today by the Trudeau government. “These regulations require that refunds be provided for cancelled flights or Read more