TORONTO —Canada’s travel industry has gotten a major boost, says ACTA, following recent news from Ottawa about border restrictions and cruising. 

Last Thursday, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced that Canada’s cruise ship ban, which was previously scheduled to end on Feb. 28, 2022, will be lifted early on Nov. 1, 2021. The move will allow cruise ships to once again sail in Canadian waters, something they have not been able to do since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

On the same day Minister Alghabra announced the news, Prime Minister Just Trudeau indicated a target date in mid-August for the reopening of the U.S.-Canada border to fully vaccinated Americans. He also hinted that as long as Canada’s vaccination rate continues on its upward trajectory, fully vaccinated travellers from around the world could begin arriving in Canada by early September. 

In light of the positive news, ACTA president Wendy Paradis, who has advocated for the safe resumption of travel for months on behalf of Canada’s travel agency businesses, issued the following statement:

“ACTA pleased to hear the announcements from the federal government last week that fully vaccinated Americans might be allowed into Canada later in August and fully vaccinated international visitors in September. This is in line with what ACTA has been hearing from contacts in the government. 

“Also, we were very pleased with the important announcement from the Minister of Transport about the lifting of the cruise ban from Canadian waters on Nov. 1, 2021.  This sends a very clear message to cruise lines to include Canada in their 2022 itineraries and to the USA Senators who are advocating for permanent changes that would enable cruise ships to circumvent Canada.

“All these steps are extremely important to our industry and towards the easing of blanket travel advisories for all non-essential travel and cruise travel altogether.  

“ACTA will continue to lobby for a clear plan forward so that the industry can plan for a full re-opening.