Travel and tourism stakeholders are witnessing optimism amid Omicron fright

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Many Canadians are now thinking once again about their travel plans with information coming to the surface about Omicron, although travel and tourism stakeholders are witnessing optimism as per latest updates.

Hotel and resort operators are hopeful that the strain is less serious than previous ones, said Walt Judas, the CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C.

Judas said, “But the news changes daily. The biggest worry for our members is that things will shut back down again. Any further clampdowns, as far as border crossings are concerned, would be seriously detrimental to our sector.”

Meanwhile, hotels in Victoria and Vancouver are enjoying promising bookings this month, partly due to the “slight return” of conferences and special events.

Beth Potter, the CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, said that the hoped-for surge in December travel and hospitality has not come to pass, with some guests having already canceled their holiday trips due to Omicron scare.

New measures by the United States require all foreign travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of departure.

The Canadian government also announced last week that air travelers entering Canada, except for those coming from the U.S., will now need to be tested upon arrival at the airport and quarantinetill results come out, even if they are fully vaccinated against the virus.

Canadians returning home by air or land after more than 72 hours abroad must provide proof of a pre-departure negative COVID-19 molecular test.

« Back to Page

• Worst COVID-19 cases in China: Are we heading to another wave?

• New Zealand rules out lockdown as it prepares for Omicron outbreak

• Omicron: Sweden scraps negative COVID-19 test to enter country

• Cape Town International Airport sees recovery of domestic and international arrival

• Hong Kong suspends transit flights from most of the world as COVID-19 escalates