Lifting of travel restrictions welcomed by Regina airport, travel agent

COVID-19 border restrictions are nearing an end and many people in the travel and tourism industry are finding themselves breathing a sigh of relief.

“This is welcome news for anyone involved with travel, the visitor economy (and) hotels,” Regina Airport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz said Monday. “This is a great day for all of us.

“I can tell you from the Regina airport standpoint, this is long overdue and we’re very, very pleased to see this.”

Federal ministers say all COVID-19 border restrictions will end as of Saturday, including mandatory vaccinations, testing and quarantine of international travellers, and mandatory masks on planes and trains.

The ArriveCan app will not be mandatory when the order expires, but federal officials say travellers can use the app to submit customs and immigration declarations before they arrive at certain airports.

Bogusz anticipates an increase in people choosing to travel as a result of the changes.

“We hope with this announcement and with things becoming normal again — and we’re talking about pre-pandemic normal in terms of the travel experience — we’re hopeful that those who have been holding off on travel will now consider,” Bogusz said.

“This is also big for Saskatchewan’s GDP, bringing people into the province to attend events, conferences, hopefully, stay in a hotel and eat in our restaurants, this is critical for us to recover back to full strength.

“The Regina airport contributes over $800 million to the local GDP but it can only do so when it’s at full strength, so we are looking forward to seeing these financial barriers being removed. ”

Rachel Souster, a travel consultant with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), anticipates an increase in demand for people travelling to tropical destinations this winter.

“We are looking at people making a lot of requests,” Souster said. “A lot of people are getting on the booking train. It’s hard to say exactly what’s left to sell off later on.”

Based on what she’s hearing, Souster says a lot of people are feeling more comfortable travelling after the most recent announcement by the federal government.

“I think a lot of people are just tired of being at home and ready to explore,” Souster claimed.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is still recommending that people wear masks in crowded environments such as planes and trains.

The incoming changes do not remove the quarantine or testing requirements for people who entered Canada before Saturday. Canada-bound travellers will no longer be subject to random mandatory COVID tests, and unvaccinated Canadians will not need to isolate when they return to the country.