Because the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, and with one other winter season across the nook, leaders in Alberta’s tourism and hospitality trade gathered at Mount Norquay ski resort Tuesday morning to make a plea to Ottawa.
The Canadian Journey and Tourism Roundtable is asking on the federal authorities to drop the requirement for fully-vaccinated travellers from exterior of Canada to provide a detrimental PCR take a look at.
In some circumstances the exams can run upwards of $200.
“It’s good to see the restrictions lifted with respect to land and air border places, however as we talked about at this time, it’s nonetheless a bit cost-prohibitive in the intervening time,” mentioned Darren Reeder, a board adviser with the Tourism Trade Affiliation of Alberta.
In accordance with the Roundtable, Banff Nationwide Park continues to be seeing loads of guests from throughout Canada, however they want extra worldwide company.
“This removing of the PCR take a look at (requirement) looks like such minute element, however it’s such a strong device in getting our market transferring once more,” mentioned Katie Tuff of the Banff Hospitality Collective.
Throughout the winter months, snowboarding is central to boosting Banff’s native economic system.
Pete Woods is the president of SkiBig3, a bunch that represents the Mount Norquay, Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise ski resorts. He mentioned since most Albertans get out onto the slopes on the weekend, enterprise all through the season closely depends on travellers from exterior of Canada.
“What we see from our worldwide guests is the longer keep, they usually come all through your complete week,” he mentioned. “After they do, it helps unfold (enterprise) out.”
Whether or not or not the request is listened to is one other story.
Well being Canada has mentioned that its present testing measures are a vital a part of Canada’s COVID-19 surveillance technique, and that PCR — or molecular — exams have a considerably excessive sensitivity for early detection of COVID-19.
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