Canadian travel demand on rise as spring break approaches

By CityNews Staff

As spring break inches closer for Canadians, travel agents say their phones are ringing off the hook as people inquire about warm, sunny destinations they can jet off to.

Allison Wallace, a spokesperson with Flight Centre, says this is the most action the industry has seen since before the pandemic started.

“I think people, as we sort of enter into the third year, are really looking to get away, to get a break, a mental break, a physical break, removing themselves from their homes, just being able to get away and feel some sense of normality,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people holding out hope that we’ve seen sort of the crest of the wave for Omicron.”

Wallace adds places like Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic has been the most booked, but says this is partially due to the limited COVID-19 restrictions these countries enforce.

Folks are also looking to escape the gloomy weather, especially after so much extreme weather. There’s tremendous demand for trips to warm, bright places heading towards spring break.

“There are a lot of people wanting to plan travel. The biggest deterrent for people right now to actually book that travel are the restrictions, concerns with testing positive, and the difficulty with coming back,” she said.

“We’re not at pre-COVID levels yet, but we’re well on our way.”

Easing restrictions will also likely ease people’s worries about travelling, says Wallace.

If you are looking to travel in the coming months, Wallace recommends purchasing COVID-19 travel insurance before you go. It could save you a lot of money if you do get sick and are forced to quarantine in a foreign country.

“You definitely want to read the fine print and understand what that insurance covers,” she said.

Educate yourself about the restrictions in the country you’re visiting, and stay up to date with pertinent changes. Follow those tips, and you’re likely to have a much more comfortable trip, Wallace says.

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