A recent survey says that 40 percent of Canadians believe the government should remove travel advisories to the US and reopen the border to make travel to America easier. The survey also revealed that the US is the top travel destination for Canadians when restrictions are eased.
The June survey of 1,500 Canadians conducted by the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA) comes as the federal government announced intentions to remove hotel quarantine measures for vaccinated Canadians entering the country as soon as early July.
The survey reports that those vaccinated Canadians are twice as likely to travel internationally this year. And as the vaccine rollout continues across the country, nearly one-third (31%) of unvaccinated survey respondents said they would get vaccinated if it was required for travel. However, one in five vaccine-hesitant respondents also said they would lie about having received their vaccination status in order to travel.
Canadians’ desire to travel to the US had declined in recent years, but the survey findings show that the US. is the most popular first travel destination for Canadians, based on proximity to avoid air travel and the country’s vaccination rollout. According to the survey:
• 37% of Canadians indicated that the US is the first place they plan to travel outside of Canada
• 33% of respondents said they were more likely to travel to the US after the pandemic, than before
• 47% attribute their interest in travelling to the US to the success of the American vaccine rollout
• 46% of respondents say their preferred mode of travel is by vehicle (car, van, or camper), which makes the US a convenient destination.
“This has been the longest border closure in history, with a level three travel advisory that has been in place for more than a year. It’s time to put a safe border-reopening plan into action and view international vaccination requirements for travel as a way of overcoming vaccine-hesitancy,” says Will McAleer, THIA’s Executive Director and spokesperson.
“Anyone considering travelling outside of Canada needs to understand travel requirements and the importance of proper vaccination documentation as well as whether their health insurance will enable them to have a carefree vacation.”
The survey also noted that Canadians are also taking more interest in researching their coverage options and what their current plan offers in advance of booking their trip with 74% saying they are more likely to review their travel health insurance coverage now, following the pandemic, than ever before.
Brand USA
The survey will be welcome news to Brand USA, which is preparing for the resumption of cross-border travel by planning a special virtual training day for Canadian travel agents, to be hosted on the Brand USA Global Marketplace on Wednesday June 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT. Through live training sessions and pre-recorded segments, agents will learn about the latest products, protocols, and information on what’s new in the US travel and hospitality industry (including a keynote address from US National Parks), ensuring they are equipped with the tools necessary to promote and sell the US. All pre-recorded content will also be translated into French. Register HERE – deadline is June 21.