Destinations
Lynx Air Expands Its Network
Lynx Air continues to grow its Canadian network with the addition of Victoria, BC and the expansion of its presence in Toronto, ON, and Winnipeg. The carrier will now serve six Canadian cities which include Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Kelowna and Victoria. Passengers will now be able to fly between Winnipeg, MB, and Toronto, ON with Lynx offering two flights per week between these two cities beginning Thurs., May 5, 2022 with prices starting at $69 one way. On Thurs., May 12, 2022, Lynx will take off to Victoria, BC, offering two services a week between Calgary, AB and...
NACC Wants A Clear Science-Based Plan
While it recognizes that the Feb. 15 announcement by the federal government is a step forward, the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) says that a clear, science-based plan is still needed. Suzanne Acton-Gervais, NACC’s interim president and CEO, said that: “Since the outset of the pandemic, Canada’s major airlines have worked hand in hand with the Government of Canada to keep air travel safe for travellers, workers and for Canadian families, including through their full support of the implementation of vaccination requirements for air travellers and...
ACTA Says More Is Needed
Following over a year of advocacy by ACTA and the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable, the Government of Canada announced Feb. 15th that the pre-departure molecular (PCR) testing requirement for fully vaccinated travellers would be removed effective Feb. 28, 2022. Fully vaccinated travellers may now use a negative rapid antigen test one day before their departure time or arrival at the land border. The test must be administered by a telehealth service, laboratory, or healthcare professional. Travellers may still use a molecular test within 72 hours of travel or furnish proof of a...
WS Says Pre-Departure Testing Needs To End
While the WestJet Group is welcoming the changes the federal government announced today (Feb. 15) – which include the removal of blanket travel advisory, end to advance PCR and arrivals testing requirements, changes to child travel policy and lifting of restrictions on international arrivals at Canadian airports -- it is also making it clear that until the pre-departure testing requirement is fully removed for fully-vaccinated travellers the travel and tourism industry’s recovery will continue to be impeded. Angela Avery, WestJet Executive Vice-President, External Affairs, said...
G Adventures Says Easing Of Restrictions Is Good News
David Green, managing director for G Adventures in Canada says the federal government’s announcement that it was easing testing and other travel restrictions is good news for this country’s travel industry. Green said that: “The Canadian travel industry can breathe a collective sigh of relief today as it gets set to join other key tourism markets in loosening the border restrictions and requirements that have made international travel more difficult in the wake of Omicron.” He continued: “While many people have continued to travel since the non-essential advisory was...
UPDATED: Changing The Rules
UPDATE: In a social media post, ACTA advises that it has received clarification from the Government of Canada that fully-vaccinated travellers can take a rapid antigen test conducted anytime on the day of or before travel (similar to USA). This corrects the previous announcement of "within 24 hours." The change is effective February 28. With recent data indicating that the latest wave of COVID-19 -- driven by the Omicron variant -- has passed its peak in Canada, the federal government has rolled out some changes to its current border measures that take effect at the end of...
PATA Forecasts Growing Strength For Asia Pacific
PATA has released its Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2022-2024 Full Report which predicts that annual changes in international visitor arrivals (IVAs) across the region will turn positive versus 2021 IVAs under each of the mild, medium, and severe scenarios in 2022, with growth rates ranging between 126% and 84%. The increase in the absolute number of international visitor arrivals is predicted to range from 72.5 million to 175.7 million under the severe and mild scenarios respectively, lifting the total volume of visitor arrivals to between 159 million and 315 million, under those...
Hong Kong Roars Back In Year Of The Tiger
Will the arrival of the Chinese New Year serve as something of a catalyst for a travel industry rebound? Perhaps so, given that this year is the Year of the Tiger, with Tuesday participants in a Baxter Media Hong Kong Tourism Board webcast noting that that large feline represents the likes of strength and energy in Chinese culture, qualities that are useful for those in the industry as they continue to have to cope with a lingering coronavirus pandemic. "We're confident that this year we are going to roar and tourism will come back stronger," the tourism board's Jorge Lee told...