Nearly 40 leading Canadian travel and entertainment businesses are urging the federal government to immediately implement a re-opening plan based on recommendations made last week by its own expert COVID/health panel, which included, amongst other things, eliminating quarantines for fully vaccinated travellers.
The Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable – a coalition of leaders in the tourism and travel sector that includes representatives from airports, airlines, hotels, boards of trade and chambers of commerce across the country – says, “Canadians are doing their part in getting vaccinated; now it is time to provide clear, timely, and safe guidance on reopening travel and reuniting families and friends… Just as it was important to quickly put in place measures to protect the health and safety of Canadians at the start of the pandemic, it is of equal importance to remove restrictions that are no longer necessary.”
The group notes that the COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel was convened by the federal government to provide independent, science- and data-driven recommendations on testing, border restrictions and quarantine measures. Among the recommendations in its report, presented to the government last week, were eliminating quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers, implementing changes to testing and screening, and eliminating Canada’s mandatory three-day hotel quarantine policy.
“With increasing vaccination rates and decreasing case counts, it is time for the federal government to announce a plan to implement the recommendations of the Expert Panel,” maintains the Roundtable, adding, “Given the advances in science and safety, as well as the dramatic progress on vaccination in Canada, the safe restart of travel must be planned… Travel enables businesses to grow and thrive, and also provides a lifeline for Canadians to maintain essential links to family and friends.”
The Roundtable believes the government should implement a vaccination certification process in line with global standards, with the upcoming G7 discussions in the UK presenting an opportunity for Canada to work with the international community toward a common approach.
Its other suggestions include:
• Eliminate the government hotel quarantine for all travellers
• Eliminate pre-departure tests and quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers
• Reduce quarantine for partially vaccinated travellers (after a test upon arrival) and unvaccinated travellers (after a test taken at day 7)
• Amend border measures in stages
• Put in place a system to validate proof of vaccination for arriving travellers as soon as possible.
The table says it is also eager to work together with the government to continue to improve safety standards and protocols.
Members of the Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable include: ACCOR, Air Canada, Air Transat, American Express Global Business Travel, ACTA, Avis Budget Group, Business Council of Canada, Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, Canadian Airports Council, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Gaming Association, Canadian Live Music Association, Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Chorus Aviation, Collette, Destination Toronto, Enterprise Holidays, Eventco, Fogo Island Inn, Global Business Travel Association, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Hilton Hotels Canada, Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), InnVest Hotels, IATA, Marriott Canada, Montreal Canadiens, National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC), Porter Airlines, Pursuit Collection, Rainmaker Global Business, Rocky Mountaineer, Ticketmaster, Toronto Board of Trade, TIAC, Tourism Montreal, and WestJet.