Canadian Travel
Canadians are looking more towards the Caribbean, especially the Dominican Republic, post COVID-19
The ongoing border closure with the United States means that more Canadians are turning their attention to Caribbean destinations, according to a recent survey by the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA).
An overwhelming 79% of 1,000 Canadians surveyed and 90% of seniors said they would not travel to the U.S. this winter. Even if their travel health insurance policy provided coverage for COVID-19.
Interest from Canadians in Noval Properties luxury resort homes in the Dominican Republic for vacation, overwintering, retirement or investment remains strong.
Travel To DR
Up until the time of writing, airports in the Dominican Republic remain fully operational. Apart, however, from flights to and from the UK, due to the new variant. Although an evening curfew is in place to limit the effect of COVID-19 across the country.
At the same time, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) predicts that the region will see tourism return. In what he describes as “faster than many parts of the world.”
CHTA President Pablo Torres says this has been aided by the protocols and partnerships. All implemented throughout the region to help lessen the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president believes that 2021 would be a year of recovery. Mr Torres says, “Tourism is our key to recovery and restoring the livelihood of thousands of employees in our industry. Not to mention the key to reopening our doors, and welcoming our guests.”
A tourism revival will refresh and renew “the minds, bodies and spirits of millions of travelers who will discover that the Caribbean is the best place on earth to recover from the ravage of this pandemic.”
Describing COVID-19 as an unprecedented challenge, he applauded the Caribbean’s rapid response to the pandemic. Which helped to contain the spread of the virus more effectively than many other parts of the world.
“Experts have indicated, that based on the results of past pandemics in our history, a two-year period of recovery to return to ‘normalcy’ can be expected. Based on that prediction we can expect ‘normal’ conditions beyond December 2021. Our concept of ‘normal’ is compounded by the view that the measures we have implemented. All of these measures set to control the spread of the virus may stay with us for an indefinite period.”