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 supply a destructive PCR take a look at.
In some instances the assessments 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 as we speak, it’s nonetheless a bit cost-prohibitive for the time being,” mentioned Darren Reeder, a board adviser with the Tourism Trade Affiliation of Alberta.
In keeping with the Roundtable, Banff Nationwide Park remains to be seeing loads of guests from throughout Canada, however they want extra worldwide visitors.
“This removing of the PCR take a look at (requirement) looks as if such minute element, but it surely’s such a strong software in getting our market transferring once more,” mentioned Katie Tuff of the Banff Hospitality Collective.
Through 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, and so they 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 important a part of Canada’s COVID-19 surveillance technique, and that PCR — or molecular — assessments have a considerably excessive sensitivity for early detection of COVID-19.
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