Stephen Sklar: The U-S is finally welcoming back Canadian travelers but U-S citizens have been crossing the border for two months now. N-C-C News Reporter Maddie Stelk says that this has kept local agencies like B-T-I travel with their hands full…
Maddie Stelk: Corporate travel consultant Heather Painter explains why Central New Yorkers are eager to book and why agents are eager to help.
Heather Painter: We are excited about it because a lot of our business um clients do go up to Canada quite often… it makes their travel easy and they can finally get back to normal business…
Maddie Stelk: Painter says many Central New Yorkers using B-T-I to book one of two popular locations
Heather Painter:I think the other day we booked three or four Montreal tickets so it seems like its gonna be the normal of going to Toronto Montreal area
Maddie Stelk: The U-S Canada borders are now fully open both ways- putting a final end to the 20-month travel ban imposed due to COVID-19. Maddie Stelk, N-C-C news.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– The U.S. opened its Canadian border to non-essential travel on Monday- making this the first time in 20 months that the border has been open both ways.
The Canadian border opened to fully vaccinated Americans back in August, keeping Central New York travel agencies busy ever since. Heather Painter, a Corporate Travel Consultant for BTI Travel, explained that the agency has seen a significant increase in clientele.
“We are excited about it because a lot of our business clients do go up to Canada quite often,” she said. “It makes their travel easy and they can finally get back to normal business.”
Painter said many clients in the past few months have used BTI to book two popular Canadian locations.
“I think the other day we booked three or four Montreal tickets,” she said. “It seems like its gonna be the normal of going to the Toronto-Montreal area.”
Both countries are requiring travelers to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test.
