FAQs

Q: What are the requirements in place for travellers coming to Canada?

For the latest information on travel to Canada including the updated federal requirements and restrictions, please visit the Government of Canada website.

Travel to Canada is different than it was prior to the pandemic. We encourage all travellers to be fully informed of the pre-entry and on-arrival public health and testing requirements both federally and provincially. This includes the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app. Travellers should plan for extra time in the lead up, and upon the arrival of their trip.

It’s also important that travellers be aware of local restrictions and health guidelines. Please visit your travel destination’s website for those guidelines, or Destination Canada’s COVID-19 Guidance for Travellers page.

Q: Can visitors come to Canada with their kids even if they are unvaccinated?

Destination Canada is not involved in the implementation of border restriction policy and cannot answer specific questions on the new regulations. The official source for travel information is the Government of Canada’s website, which we encourage you to visit.

Q: Is Canada ready to welcome travellers back?

Team Canada is ready to go. The travel industry has invested billions in health and hygiene protocols, retraining staff, and reconfiguring experiences to prepare for visitors.

In terms of Canadians level of welcome - our weekly tracking shows that Canadians are becoming increasingly more open to welcoming back international visitors. Our warm and diverse people, vibrant cities and cultures, and incomparable natural beauty await those looking for meaningful travel experiences to reconnect with what’s important today.

Q: Is Destination Canada marketing Internationally?

We have been working closely with our in-market teams globally to ensure that Canada stays top-of-mind and we continue to cultivate our global travel trade and travel media relationships. Team Canada is absolutely ready to go and we are excited to be welcoming back travellers.

Q: As an industry, what are key things we should be focusing our efforts on?

It is important that we all make it clear that travellers can feel confident in making travel plans as tourism businesses throughout Canada have made huge investments in new hygiene protocols. The health and well-being of tourism employees and guests is paramount.

We continue to share our weekly analysis of each region’s travel restrictions and local residents’ sentiment towards tourists. This can help you make evidence-based decisions when it comes to marketing.

Q: Do you have any resources we can provide travellers with information about travel considerations?

Our consumer website has lots of great resources and travel inspiration as well as COVID-19 guidance for travellers.

Q: I am a travel advisor and am trying to learn more about the Canada offering – how can I learn more so I can sell effectively?

The Canada Specialist Program is intended to be a one-stop resource for travel advisors in Canada, to help them learn about the destinations, understand travel restrictions, and connect them with the tour operators.

More details on our Canada Specialist Program is available on our website: canadaspecialist.ca

Q: What are some travel trends you see seeing?

Destination Canada’s research shows that our cities have been hardest hit by the pandemic. We also know our audience is driven by the following travel experiences, therefore we want to showcase that these types of activities are available within and near our great cities:

Hiking or walking in nature
Trying local food and drink (breweries and wineries in particular)
Natural attractions and nature parks
Viewing wildlife or marine life
Art galleries or museums

Q: What are the most important elements for the recovery of the industry besides human resources and sanitary measures?

There are many important elements for recovery of the industry but the number one thing we need is for Canadians to keep their holiday dollars in Canada to speed up our sector’s recovery. We encourage you to do whatever you can to channel domestic demand to your business and we are doing the same.

To help do this, we need to do the following:

Increase Canadians’ understanding of the importance of Canada’s tourism industry.
Inspire confidence and desire to travel domestically – this includes showcasing all of the extensive health and hygiene protocols you’ve put into place and also reminding Canadians what a beautiful country we live in!
Re-ignite the welcoming spirit of Canadian communities – to ensure they feel ready to welcome visitors back again.a

Q: How does DC work with the provinces and territories? How can I get involved with Destination Canada and upcoming campaigns?

We work closely with our provincial and territorial counterparts and keep them up-to-date on all marketing plans and provide opportunities for collaboration whenever possible keeping in mind equal representation from across the country. We want to ensure we are supporting ongoing efforts and not duplicating.

It is crucial that you stay connected to your PTMO to stay apprised of all plans and opportunities within your local region.

Q: As the national marketing organization, how are you going to make sure communities are front and centre as you plan for the future?

Going forward, we will be using a new yardstick for Canada’s tourism industry – one that measures whether tourism is creating net benefits for our country. As we re-build our industry, we are focused on four pillars that will enable us to compete more effectively and win the customers we want. Building on existing strengths in marketing and research, we are carving out a new strategic role in destination development. We will look to work with businesses across the country in these efforts.

Q: When will tourism in Canada reach pre-COVID levels, and what are we doing to help engage international travellers and inspire them to travel to Canada when restrictions are lifted?

Destination Canada’s recent forecasts that best case we are back to 2019 levels by 2024 – but that depends heavily on a big domestic year in 2022 and heavy international travel taking place by 2023.

A large part of that will be how we are able to communicate the willingness of Canada to welcome visitors, how we manage the pandemic in Canada and globally, and how we are able to promote the experiences that we have to offer.

We are working closely with our in-market teams globally to ensure that Canada stays top-of-mind and we are maintaining our global travel trade and travel media relationships.

Q: How is Destination Canada promoting the actual tourism businesses to get the travellers closer to the cash register and make a transaction?

We launched our Travel Offers page which has hotel, air, and rail offers as well as city and activity passes, special offers and deals within the choice of city and Indigenous experiences through ITAC too. These all link directly through to our partners pages. We also created a Package Portal with bookable packages form partners from across Canada.

Q: How can I best manage my business during COVID?

Visitors can feel confident in making travel plans as tourism businesses throughout Canada have made huge investments in new hygiene protocols. Do whatever you can to highlight the upgrades you’ve done and that the health and wellbeing of your guests is paramount.

We also know our audience is driven by the following travel experiences, therefore we suggest showcasing that these types of activities are available if applicable:

Hiking or walking in nature
Trying local food and drink (breweries and wineries in particular)
Natural attractions and nature parks
Viewing wildlife or marine life
Art galleries or museums