By Cheryl Jahn

Travel industry applauding newest federal move

Mar 17, 2022 | 3:53 PM

After declaring Canada in a “transitional phase,” Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos made an announcement that rocked the tourism sector.

“Effective April 1st, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to complete a pre-entry test before traveling to Canada. Fully-vaccinated travellers may still undergo random testing upon entry to Canada but they no longer required to quarantine while awaiting their results.”

It is music to the ears of the tourism sector. Travel Expert Claire Newell, the requirement to have a rapid test prior to re-entry in the country is not only costs but the stress of it was a deterrent.

“So much so that many people were choosing not to travel at all,” noted Newell. “Because the reality is, whether it was the more expansive PCR test or a rapid antigen test, which is cheaper, it still meant that if you tested positive in a destination, you cannot come back to Canada for ten days. For a lot of people, that’s just too much for them to decide to make a booking.’

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*All travellers continue to be required to submit their mandatory information in ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website) before their arrival in Canada.

*Travellers taking a cruise or a plane must submit their information in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before boarding.

*For partially or unvaccinated travelers who are currently allowed to travel to Canada, pre-entry testing requirements are not changing.

But the loosened requirements are also very good news for this region, which relies on a lot of travellers. Americans travelling through on Highway 97 north to Alaska.

“It’s not just for Canadians looking to travel internationally. It’s also for those international travellers looking to come to Canada,” explains Newell. “The industry not just here in BC, but all across the country have really over the past two years with no international travellers. They are likely doing a happy dance. Maybe an Irish jig given it’s St. Patty’s Day.”

But the federal health minister was quick to note that the government will continue to monitor for more variants and is prepared to make adjustments to the regulations as necessary.