Breaking Travel News: Vaccines Required To Travel

 

Breaking Travel News

Mandatory Proof of Vaccination Required To Travel  The federal government of Canada has just announced that by the end of October 2021, everyone over the age of 12 must provide proof of vaccination to travel by plane, rail or marine vessel. In the live press conference today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put it bluntly, "to travel, you must be vaccinated".    After a short phase-in period, all employees in federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors will also be required to be fully vaccinated.   As of Oct. 30, all travellers ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to board flights leaving Canadian airports or to travel on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains and non-essential passenger marine vessels, like cruise ships.   To qualify as a "fully vaccinated traveller," a person must have received at least two Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccinations. A combination of approved shots is also accepted. The last dose must be administered at least 14 days prior to the day of travel. A short transition phase is being implemented for this reason and will allow travellers to show a negative COVID-19 molecular test result instead of proof of vaccination up until November 30, 2021.   Currently, proof of vaccination from your provincial health care providers will suffice while the federal government continues to work on a national vaccination passport for international travellers.   For any unvaccinated traveler who would like to cancel, please contact your designated travel advisor for the bookings terms and conditions associated with your travel reservation.    This news comes as a relief to the majority of Canadians who are vaccinated and ready to travel, adding further protection from Covid-19. For more helpful resources or if you should have any questions, please connect with Romantic Planet Vacations at www.romanticplanetvacations.com or travel@romanticplanet.ca or 1-866-247-8123.

Breaking: Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal Airports Next for Rapid Testing?

Would you travel during the pandemic if you didn't have to self-isolate for 14 days upon your return? Millions of travel-craving Canadians have asked themselves the same very question. 

Canada announced an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act on March 25th, 2020 that requires any person entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19. Seven months later on November 2nd, Calgary introduced a rapid Covid-19 testing pilot program, in conjunction with the Alberta and federal government. This pilot project would replace the length of isolation time from 14 days to the length it takes to get your first results of a negative post-travel test. This is often only 24 - 48 hours. Thereafter, you're free to roam the province but must report back daily via an app and take a second test on day six upon your entry. 

In the first six weeks of the Calgary pilot project, the province has reported that out of the 14,382 tested travellers, only 1.4% tested positive on the initial swab. After the second required swab, the positive test results drops down to only 0.7%.

Other major airports and provincial governments across Canada have been closely monitoring the results and are ready to follow suit. Alberta Health spokesman Tom McMillan advises, "The intent is to add the Edmonton International Airport to the pilot in 2021." Montreal Trudeau Airport is now offering rapid tests for those traveling to France, and other destinations that require negative result medical certificate upon entry into their country or region. For other major Canadian gateways, Shoppers Drug Mart is now also offering this service to provide proof of negative Covid-19 test. 

Toronto Pearson International Airport spokesperson Robin Smith said they are "very open to setting up a similar program to what is in place in Calgary." Backing this, Ontario Premiere 

Doug Ford is calling on federal support to place rapid testing stations at the provinces two major airports in Toronto and Ottawa to help reduce the existing 14-day mandatory quarantining in Ontario.

This comes as more rapid tests are being rolled out across the country in long-term care centers and hospitals, along with the actual vaccine. "It's a game-changer" announces Ford. 

So - the ultimate question, what will stop you from traveling?

♡Flights are available to the destination

♡Flying is proven to be safe (according to IATA the chances of catching Covid-19 is 1 in 27 million)

♡The airline, transportation company, and resort have a strict health and safety protocol

♡There is no need to quarantine for 14 days

♡I can easily get tested before and/or after my trip

Local Burlington Travel Agency Earns Top Growth Award

Romantic Planet Vacations of Burlington, ON was recently honoured with the “Highest Growth Award” from Ensemble Travel^® Group, one of the premier travel agency organizations in the travel industry. The full-service agency earned the award for achieving the highest year-over-year growth (regionally) based on its 2017 preferred partner sales compared to 2016, including cruise lines, tour operators, hotels, airlines, rental car, and travel insurance companies.

Laurie Keith accepts the Highest Growth Award presented by Ensemble Travel Group

              The sales award was presented to Laurie Keith, owner of Romantic Planet Vacations, by Ensemble Travel Group Co-Presidents Lindsay Pearlman and Libbie Rice last month during the organization’s annual international conference held at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, the Bahamas. More than 850 travel executives attended the key industry meeting. 

"Congratulations to the team of highly skilled travel professionals from Romantic Planet Vacations!” said Pearlman. “This award honours a few select agencies that have demonstrated their strong business expertise through impressive gains with our global network of travel providers as well as by delivering extraordinary customer service to their growing base of customers.”

Romantic Planet Vacations has been specializing in destination weddings and honeymoons since 2004 and has always been a leader in this niche travel market since it's conception. The company has been a member of Ensemble Travel Group for 3 years. Clients of the travel agency enjoy a number of exclusive travel perks and services because of its affiliation with Ensemble Travel Group. Please visit www.romanticplanet.ca for more information.

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