Canada Makes The Right Call

The U.S. Travel Association is urging the Biden Administration to pick a date for the reopening of the Canada-US border and put a plan in place to achieve that goal as quickly as possible.

USTA’s executive vice president of public affairs and policy, Tori Emerson Barnes issued the call after the US extended border restrictions on Mexico and Canada through August 21:

Said Emerson Barnes: “Every day that our borders remain closed further delays our industry’s recovery, causing greater damage to the millions of Americans whose livelihoods depend on travel. The continued closure of the Canadian border alone costs the U.S. economy $1.5 billion in potential travel exports each month.”

She also pointed out that: “Given the strong vaccination rates on both sides of the border, it is possible to safely reopen to our No. 1 source market for international visitors. Land travel accounted for more than half of all overnight visits to the U.S. by Canadians pre-pandemic, generating significant travel exports that support vital American jobs.”

The USTA executive vice president of public affairs and policy also made it clear that: “Canada made the right call in releasing a timeline for vaccinated Americans to cross the land border and visit, and it is past time that the U.S. reciprocates.”

And Emerson Barnes continued: “There is no difference between a fully vaccinated Canadian and a fully vaccinated American. We urge the Biden administration to determine a date and a plan as quickly as possible to welcome Canadian visitors at U.S. land borders.”

Earlier this week, the USTA had applauded Canada’s decision to reopen the border to fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents for non-essential travel beginning Aug. 9.