By Jenna Zucker

TORONTO, Reuters – Canada was visited by more than 1 million people in a week after the pandemic. The reason? Canada’s COVID-19 border restrictions were relaxed, and this encouraged tourists to return.

Canada is entering its peak summer vacation season and tour operators believe that the recovery seen the week before will continue. It was the hardest hit sector by the pandemic.

According to Alla Weintraub (F1S luxury travel advisor), “People want to be able to spend more than they were after two years at home and are willing to pay more to do so.” She added that people believe these hotels will provide better care.

Canada had implemented some of the toughest border restrictions to stem the spread COVID-19. But after Ottawa eliminated the COVID test requirement for all travelers beginning April, bookings began to rise for tour operators.

Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA), reported that more than 1,000,000 travelers entered the country in the week ending April 11. However, visitor numbers have dropped by 44% over the April 15-17, 2019, period.

It gave people more confidence because their phones got busier and busier. Elyse mailhot, Marketing and Communications Manager at Discover Canada Tours, said that while we are still cautious, it has been very encouraging.

Air Canada’s quarterly earnings will be released next week and it expects to reflect rising travel demand.

Canada’s tourism spending rose by 4.4% to C$50.8billion ($40 billion) in 2021, compared with 2020 which saw a 49% decline in 2019, according to March data. Tourism accounted for 4.1% in Canada’s 2021 GDP.

Tours are growing, but it is becoming difficult to find the right talent to run them. Mailhot indicated that people have moved into other fields. Mailhot stated, “Even students appear to be more picky.”

($1 = 1.2711 Canadian dollars)