While the federal government has formally announced that Canadians will no longer need to obtain a negative PCR COVID-19 test result to re-enter Canada after a trip of 72 hours or less, the testing requirement for visitors to enter Canada is holding back the country’s key tourism destinations.
Earlier this month, the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable and business operators in Banff, Alta., called on the federal government to remove the pre-departure PCR test for fully vaccinated travellers as we enter Canada’s busy ski season.
“This year, we are once again facing a government that seems indifferent to the needs of travel and tourism operators, choosing to impose unnecessary pre-departure tests on fully vaccinated international visitors,” a statement from Pete Woods, President and CEO of SkiBig3, from Nov. 9 reads. “This policy has real impacts on Banff and Lake Louise businesses like SkiBig3.”
“This costly, confusing and cumbersome process sends a clear message to…