The government of The Bahamas announced today that fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to submit to pre-travel COVID-19 testing to enter the country. All unvaccinated travellers ages 2 and older will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test — either a negative RT-PCR test or a Rapid Antigen test — taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to travel and present the negative test results at check-in before travel to The Bahamas. Changes go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, June 19, 2022. The government on Wednesday said it was eliminating the mandatory Read more
vaccines
Tourism officials say Canada’s new vaccination rules are a good start, but that the government hasn’t gone nearly far enough to boost the travel industry. The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable and the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) put out statements saying more moves are needed. “As the pandemic has evolved and new tools have emerged to control the impact of COVID-19, TIAO has been advocating for government to remove barriers to travel,” officials said. “TIAO welcomes today’s announcement as an important step towards normalizing travel; it will help increase inter-provincial travel Read more
The federal government today announced an end to mandatory vaccination for Canadians travelling domestically on airplanes and trains, and also for outbound international travel. Senior ministers in the Trudeau government said foreign travellers will still need to show proof of vaccination to enter Canada, while unvaccinated Canadians returning home will still be required to quarantine. The new rules will take effect Monday, June 20. Other entry requirements will stay in place, including the requirement to fill out the government’s ArriveCAN app. Masks will still be required on airplanes, large ships, and trains, officials said. Foreign nationals coming to Canada will Read more
Two of Europe’s most popular destinations are ending travel restrictions on Monday. Published reports say Switzerland’s State Secretariat of Migration (SEM) has lifted all entry restrictions that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Switzerland is open,” said Pascal Prinz, Director for Switzerland Tourism in Canada. “We warmly welcome travel-starved Canadians to enjoy the fresh air of the Swiss Alps, discover our quirky boutique towns, and explore our four language regions. No tests, no certificate, no forms, and no quarantine are required in Switzerland. ” Prinz said Air Canada and SWISS/Lufthansa Group are ramping up their flight schedule to Read more
If the Canadian travel industry is counting on public pressure to get Ottawa to ease travel restrictions, they’re in a bit of trouble. A new poll from Angus Reid finds the Canadian public is still high on testing and vaccination requirements for travel outside of the country. The poll found that slightly more than three in five Canadians are in favour of testing at the border. Asked if they support mandatory COVID testing to travel internationally or cross the border with the U.S., 61% said they’re in favour. Even in Alberta, 49% of respondents are on board with border testing. Read more
