WTTC Stunned by the Canadian Government’s Latest Moves

Caribbean News Digital Newsroom

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) blasted the Canadian government’s decision to call off all flights to Mexico and the Caribbean through April 30, the end of the peak travel season for most destinations in the region.

The decision strips the Caribbean of one of its top outbound markets, especially Cuba and the Dominican Republic that rely heavily on Canadian snowbirds. 

“The Canadian government's decision to suspend all flights to Mexico and the Caribbean until April 30, and impose hotel quarantines for all arriving passengers, will cause even further damage to its Travel & Tourism industry, which is already in a fight for survival due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the WTTC.

She added that these drastic measures will continue to cause untold damage to a sector that creates more than 1.6 million jobs, and in 2019 contributed CAD $143.9 billion to the country’s economy. 

“We firmly believe that rapid, low-cost testing on departure for all travellers, along with the implementation of a contact-tracing regime is the only way to save the sector. These simple and effective measures, along with observing enhanced hygiene protocols such as mask wearing and social distancing, will avoid exporting the virus and enable the free movement of travellers,” Mrs. Guevara went on to say.

The WTTC’s latest figures show the devastating impact COVID-19 is having on travel and tourism across North America, with between 10.8 million and 13.8 million sector jobs at serious risk.

“We hope the Canadian government will collaborate with other leaders around the world to agree on a more internationally coordinated approach to restart travel and save the ailing sector,” she concluded.