May 18, 2020


While most people aren’t ready to hop on a plane and go just yet, we have been seeing the signs and fielding the questions that show that many of you are curious. Indeed, we’ve had clients book vacations just this past week. And thanks to many new supplier incentives and generous, worry-free booking terms, they can adjust if they need to, but now they have something to look forward to! And we certainly don’t underestimate the power of that! We know that with travel you get to enjoy it three times – when you are planning, when you are travelling, and when you are reminiscing. But let’s face it, we’ve all been reminiscing lately by posting those old travel photos, and with next to no one travelling for the moment, we’re left with the planning and anticipation to keep us flying high right now (pun intended!) And we know that people are going to travel!

While we think that it will be a slow rollout -- where some may opt to drive, even though it’s nearly 2,000 kilometres (remember those glorious cross-country road trips when you were a kid?!) –- we know that many travellers are looking to return to what normal was. Which begs the question what will ‘normal’ look like now and how do we navigate travel safely in a post-COVID world?


The truth is that we don’t have a crystal ball and we can never know what the future holds for certain.But what we can do is to dispel some of the rumours that are floating around out there and to share that which we do know to be true. Many precautions and policies are being put into place to help keep us safe when travel resumes, and of course there is also much that we can do to protect ourselves.

Beyond the endless reminders to wash our hands and not touch our faces, it is important to remember that we are indeed far from powerless when it comes to protecting our own health.We know that living a healthy lifestyle is vital in maintaining a strong immune system. Eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, getting enough exercise, spending time in nature and keeping our stress levels low are all factors that contribute to our overall health and wellbeing, and which we can directly control.

“Strong immunity is built on a healthy gut microbiome and an army of white blood cells. If someone is consuming a healthy diet based on an array of fruits, vegetables and wholefoods (foods in their whole and unprocessed form - ie. a potato instead of fries), the immune system should be better-equipped to fight off the virus - or any illness,” according to the Heart Foundation.

Additionally, some studies and research are now showing that having healthy levels of vitamin D, as well as taking a vitamin D supplement, can help keep your immune system healthy and may protect against respiratory illnesses in general. However, we do not profess to be medical professionals, and it is important that you discuss these and other options with a trusted medical or health professional who can help you to take charge of your own health and wellness.


But what we really want to know is what steps are governments, airlines, cruise ships, and our other travel partners taking to keep us safe while travelling? Well, previously Transport Canada had announced that beginning on April 20th all air passengers in Canada would be required to wear non-medical masks, or face coverings that cover their mouth and nose, or risk being denied boarding. And while not necessarily government mandated, most airlines around the world also currently have similar policies in place.

However, many airlines are now moving above and beyond what has been mandated and instituting stronger proactive measures and policies. Air Canada, for example, has introduced it’s new CleanCare+ program -- a comprehensive initiative for personal safety and enhanced aircraft grooming to provide customers with greater peace of mind during all stages of travel.

This new program is designed to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 through such measures as mandatory pre-flight customer temperature checks, required health questionnaires, and seat assignment policies to allow for more personal space in Economy Class. The program also sets new standards for cabin cleanliness including the sanitizing of all frequently touched areas of the aircraft between flights, (including lavatories, tray tables, in-flight entertainment screens and surrounding hard surfaces, armrests, headrest covers, windows and window shades, passenger lights, seat and air controls, seat buckles, and overhead bin handles), along with the introduction of 'electrostatic spraying of cabin interiors.'

And airlines aren’t the only ones instituting a new regiment of safety procedures and protocols. Hotels, resorts and cruise lines have announced a myriad of new programs to safeguard the health and happiness of travellers as well.

We can expect to see new embarkation procedures amongst cruise ships that include mandatory health screenings, touch-free temperature checks and luggage disinfection, prior to onboarding. In addition to the afore-mentioned electrostatic cleaning systems we may also see UV disinfecting systems in place. We’ll likely see servers at the buffet tables (if there are even buffets at all) and more space for social distancing, including reduced ship capacity and alternative dining venues, in addition to deep-cleaning and disinfection of each stateroom between guests.

Hotels and resorts will have many of the same protocols in place with some additionally requiring 48 to 72 hour ‘buffers’ between stays in the same room. And just this week, major chains began announcing new partnerships with big-names in medicine to develop enhanced health and safety programs. Four Seasons partnered with Johns Hopkins Medicine International while Hilton linked up with the Mayo Clinic. An important aspect of these programs is that international health-care experts will check to make sure that properties are properly executing the enhanced procedures.


However, it is important to note that standards and protocols can very widely amongst airlines, hotels and cruise lines, and that most travel companies are so eager for you to book another trip that they will promise you the world. An experienced travel advisor will help you cut through the ‘window dressing’ and only recommend vetted and approved partners who are serious about safety. Additionally, entry requirements by country will likely continue to evolve as we navigate the changing travel landscape and it will be imperative to have a well-informed travel advisor at your back.

Great! When can I go?

Well the answer to that may be sooner than you think. Over the past few days, many countries have begun announcing their intentions to begin opening up their borders to travellers, with some beginning to do so as early as next month.

The European Union announced plans to begin lifting travel restrictions in time for its summer tourism season in a “phased and coordinated approach.” In the first phases of reopening, travel restrictions will vary by country. For example, the UK has agreed to bilateral travel arrangements with France and Ireland, according to the BBC, whereas tourists from outside of Europe will not be able to enter the continent until at least June 15. At which time they may then have to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, depending on arrangements with their origin country.

Other countries, such as Iceland, are set to begin welcoming all international travellers as of June 15th. Anyone arriving there will be required to either take a COVID-19 test, agree to quarantine for two weeks, or present documentation of a clean bill of health from their home country. Additionally, everyone will be asked to download the Rakning C-19 contagion tracing app. Rigorous testing in Iceland has been touted as the deciding factor in the country’s fast rebound time and low death rate.

Many other popular, southerly tourist destinations such as Cancun, Riviera Maya and St Lucia have also planned to reopen to international travel by the beginning of June, according to reports. This will likely happen in phases, as is the case in St Lucia where plans have already been announced whereby phase 1 will see Hewanorra International Airport welcoming flights from the United States. Advance testing, daily screening, the monitoring of staff and visitors, social distancing and sanitization at various points throughout the travellers' journey will be in place to help prevent the spread of the disease. Visitors will be required to present a certificate showing that they have tested negative for Covid-19 in the last 48 hours. Face masks must be worn and social distancing measures adhered to while in St Lucia.

Clearly travellers who do choose to travel this summer can expect a tourism experience that will differ from those in previous years. In Greece, where the country intends to open to tourists on July 1st, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said that while visitors will be able to sightsee and soak up the Grecian sun the experience this year would be different where “maybe no bars may be open, or no tight crowds, but you can still get a fantastic experience in Greece — provided that the global epidemic is on a downward path."


And therein lies the key, with the reopening plans of nearly every country being contingent upon the number of new cases continuing to decrease. It goes without saying that most countries have a plan that allows for the borders to be closed again, even after their reopening dates, if the situation worsens.

So, as we begin to dip our toes into the water again, it will be more imperative than ever to have a competent, knowledgeable travel expert behind us. One who will not only be able to guide us on the best suppliers to work with -- whose terms are flexible enough and reliability solid enough -- to navigate this changing travel landscape, but to guide us through every step of the process in this new normal.

If you are looking to test the waters again soon we invite you to contact us for the expert advice that you have come to know and trust from us!