Lorraine Simpson: Travel in Canada, get the economy moving again

Incoming tourism to Canada is completely closed right now, but this just might be a blessing in disguise.

You see, many Canucks are now being encouraged to spend time in their own backyard and spend their hard-earned money here at home, which is what will help get our economy moving again and get people exploring our country.

The next few months and the summer should be interesting as more travellers will be getting around the country by car, rail, and airplanes to enjoy Canada’s rich history, culture, and scenery.

For the most part, travel in Canada is pretty lax, which means that you can enjoy a vacation in your area or anywhere across our great nation. Most of our country is now opening up with some rules and guidelines in place, and Atlantic Canada has just announced that they plan to reopen for domestic tourism this summer.

Let’s be honest with ourselves, traveling internationally will be on halt for the next while, at least until the fall, as U.S.- Canada border restrictions are extended for at least another month, and international travel restrictions will remain in place for the next while. Let’s also add to the mix that there are lots of logistics to work out with vaccinations, vaccination passports, quarantines, and there are less flights and hotels available.

Now is the time to rent that RV and cruise from coast-to-coast or call your travel agent so that they can book you on some dream-themed-packaged vacations out east, out west, the Prairies, or the Northwest Territories.

Just think, it’s almost a 7-hour flight from St. John’s to Victoria, so there are no shortages of adventures to enjoy at home.

Destination Canada encourages all of us to plan future travel at home

Destination Canada is on a big campaign right now and they are telling everyone to stay at home and spend our money here – we can’t spend it internationally and this all makes perfect sense. It’s also a great idea to get our own economy moving again and help businesses in a number of sectors – airlines, hotels, restaurants, and transportation – get moving again.

The more we all spend our money on our own soil means that we will help businesses grow and we will keep people employed – many who lost their jobs a year ago when the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. 

“We understand that everyone is eager for some much-needed vacation time and we are calling on Canadians to plan their future travel within Canada,” explains Marsha Walden, president and CEO of Destination Canada in a news release.

“We are all fortunate to live in this incredibly beautiful and diverse country with breathtaking experiences from coast to coast—now is the time to plan on exploring our backyards when safe to do so. This is how each and every Canadian can enjoy our country while meaningfully helping the hundreds of thousands of people whose livelihoods enhance our quality of life in Canada,” she adds.

Airlines and hotels are offering incredible deals

Have you spoken to your travel agent these days? If not, pick up the phone.

Airline prices and hotel rates are incredibly low right now (at the time I write this column), but they may not last as space is filling up.

In some instances, you can fly from Calgary to Toronto one-way for as low as $126 right now, or you can fly round trip from Toronto to Vancouver with a hotel package for as low as about $750 right now. It is only $49 for a one-way train ride from Toronto’s Union Station to Montreal right now – or wait it’s also only $184 for a one-way train ride to Halifax right now. It doesn’t matter where you are going – Montreal, Quebec City, St. John’s, Moncton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, the Yukon or Nunavut – there are tons of deals happening right now. Even the major hotels across our nation are offering some sweet deals, and of course you get to support so many local economies along your next big journey in Canada.

I am recommending that everyone use a travel agent as they can get you the best deals and they know all the ins-and-outs on travel rules and restrictions, and they can help you in the event there are further lockdowns and restrictions in place domestically. If you live in Toronto or the GTA, or anywhere for that matter, reach out to Condello Travel in Vaughan – they run a great operation to help you build your luxury vacation on every level.

Travel in style in your own private jet… or a helicopter

Speaking of luxury, there are scores of private jet companies who charter flights everywhere, like from Toronto to Vancouver. Many are offering great deals. Even better, why not charter a helicopter ride for some short-day trips for those fishing excursions or daring skiing or snowboarding trips from breathtaking mountain tops that almost touch the sky. Wait – then there are beach escapes, and small towns and villages that offer a blend of everything.

It’s endless with what Canada has to offer and if there is one thing this damn pandemic has taught us is to support local and get more of us seeing other parts of the country we have never experienced before.

I know people from Toronto who have never been to Halifax or Vancouver, and I know people in Vancouver who have never been to Montreal or St. John’s. Then there are those of us who have never explored the Rockies or Territories.

If we all spend our money at home this spring and summer, we will for sure make up the shortfall in revenues lost since the pandemic shut us all down a year ago.