A leading group of travel agents says it’s “imperative” that the Trudeau government extend aid to travel agents devastated by the coronavirus. The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program rent and wage subsidies are scheduled to be cut in half on Sunday, March 13 and end entirely May 7, 2022. “The fifth wave of Omicron has devasted Canada’s travel and tourism small businesses, nearly eliminating the winter holiday season,” said Wendy Paradis, President, ACTA. “While recovery is on the horizon, border restrictions remain and travel agencies and independent travel agents cannot recover until the summer season.” “It is imperative that the Read more
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Ontario border city mayors and Canadian tourism groups are asking the Trudeau government to abolish COVID-19 testing at Canada and border crossings. Mayors of Windsor, Niagara Falls and Sarnia in Ontario and Niagara Falls, N.Y, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and the Hotel Association of Canada held a news conference to discuss the issue today, the CBC reports. Starting Monday, February 28, fully vaccinated Canadians and visitors coming into Canada will be able to show a negative result from a rapid antigen test, rather than an expensive, PCR or molecular-style test. It’s an improvement, but tourism officials still worry it will keep Read more
Two days after the Canadian government said it was removing its “do not travel” advisory, the warning against international travel is still on the official website. The site, which appears to have been last updated on December 15, 2021 states that Canadians should “avoid non-essential travel outside Canada due to the risk of the Omicron variant that causes COVID-19.” Another government website states that “The Public Health Agency of Canada is advising travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, to avoid non-essential travel internationally.” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Tuesday said the government would lower its travel health notice from level Read more
With an important barrier cast aside by the Trudeau government, Canadian and European tourism industry officials say they expect a huge travel rebound. The Canadian government on Tuesday said it will eliminate the need for those coming into Canada to get costly, PCR-style or molecular testing. Instead, Canadians and visitors will be able to take a rapid antigen-style test within 24 hours of their scheduled flight to Canada or within 24 hours of their arrival at a land borer crossing. “I am pleased to see the government of Canada make a wise choice,” said Paul Nursey, CEO for Destination Greater Read more
WestJet and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada say they welcome today’s announced changes to Canada’s travel rules. But both groups, along with the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, say tourism and the travel industry won’t recover as long as there are still pre-arrival testing laws in place. “The WestJet Group welcomes today’s announcement from the federal government outlining changes to Canada’s border measures and travel policies,” airline officials said. “The WestJet Group will continue to advocate, based on science and data, for the removal of all measures impacting fully-vaccinated air travellers.” “As a fully-vaccinated industry, we have worked with Read more
