All our domestic airlines, hotels, restaurants, transportation businesses and governments are all touting travel at home this summer – when it’s safe to do so of course.
A number of provinces have introduced newer and stricter measures to combat COVID-19 as the numbers in cases and hospitalizations are growing, like in Ontario, who are restricting interprovincial travel, extending the state of emergency and stay-at-home orders and placing new restrictions on recreational activities for the next while.
But if there is one light at the end of the tunnel, it is the vaccination rollout. Once Canadians are fully vaccinated (two doses), then travel at home will most pick back up, and this should be soon: as of early April, at least 5 million Canadians received their first shot of the vaccine; 716,068 of which have been fully vaccinated and are deemed safe to travel.
Just think – many of us will be fully vaccinated and we can soon travel across our province, and travel across Canada, even abroad later this year.
“People getting fully vaccinated will help get Ontario, Canada, and the world back to a new normal – nothing will ever be exactly the same as pre-COVID, but we will soon start to move more freely again and this is amazing news for the travel industry and our economy,” says Felicia Di Francesco, the founder and owner of Condello Travel in Vaughan, ON, a boutique, full-service travel agency.
Countries around the world are now starting to slowly lower their COVID-19 barriers and waive the quarantine requirement for tourists so long as they have been fully vaccinated. This means too that Canada will also ease restrictions here at home as more of the population receives its required two doses. What’s even more interesting is the development of vaccination certificates and digital vaccination passports, which we might be required to carry while traveling across Canada, and a must – as it now appears – for traveling internationally.
While travel is not being encouraged just yet, it will be soon, and now business from coast-to-coast are pushing for everyone to go away by stay at home.
Canadian travel agents and experts encouraging local travel
If one thing is certain, the more we all spend our money at home, then we will be directly supporting the recovery of our devastated economy, which includes travel and tourism.
“We have all been grounded for too long,” says Felicia, “but this will turn around and promoting travel at home will help fuel our overall economy, get people spending their money, and get people working again.”
Destination Canada is playing a big part in the “travel local” campaign this summer, so long as there are no lockdowns or travel/local restrictions in place.
“Coast to coast and central Canada, every community has something to offer, and we find tourism everywhere,” says Marsha Walden, President of Destination Canada. “It’s an industry where the engine is entrepreneurs.”
Here is some interesting data that Destination Canada has just released: if us Canucks shifted two-thirds of their planned spending on international leisure to local tourism, it would make up for a $19 billion shortfall that the pandemic actually created, and it would help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate the recovery by one year.
“I implore Canadians to make the choice to travel in Canada this year, I cannot imagine anyone would be disappointed with what they find in their own backyard, we’re really, really lucky in this country to be surrounded by such incredible beauty,” adds Walden.
“From British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador – your journey starts at home this summer,” smiles Felicia. “Our country has it all – oceans, mountains, beauty, culture, history, and amazing people. So, book your next big adventure here at home and support local.”
Travel Canada and work with a travel agent
Before you rush off to book your trip, make sure you hire a travel agent who will offer the best advice on mountain-cabin rentals, whale watching, wine and craft beer tours, oceanside cottage rentals, museums, forts, kayaking and hiking excursions, and off-the-beaten-track-places.
More importantly, a travel agent will book your flight, accommodations, transportation, and everything in between. But they also are experts, so they know all the travel rules and restrictions, which is important during a pandemic, and they will make sure you have all the right insurance in the event something gets cancelled or goes wrong. As well, a travel agent is your personal travel representative – they will stand up for you when you need them, a great asset in case your trip gets cancelled.
“We are starting to see more people booking local travel which is great news for everyone,” says Felicia. “I know once the majority of our population is fully vaccinated, then we will see a huge uptick in travel, and this is music to everyone’s ears. I highly recommend that travellers work with an agent for all their trips moving forward – locally and internationally. Travel agents will be relied on more and more as our world opens up, so don’t try and do it all yourself, let the pros help and let them give you that peace of mind you deserve.”
