Canadian travelers flock across the U.S. border as land travel restrictions lifted
Global News
Most travelers are required to show proof of vaccination in both directions. Some U.S. states also require a negative COVID-19 test.
Canadian travelers, particularly retirees headed to U.S. sunspots, flocked to the U.S. land border on Monday to drive across for the first time in 20 months, although testing requirements could dampen short-stay travel.
The United States first imposed a travel ban in early 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, barring access to most non-U.S. citizens traveling from 33 countries – including China, India and much of Europe – and restricting overland entry from Mexico and Canada.
On Monday, packed intercontinental flights touched down, while the U.S. land borders with Mexico and Canada also saw families reunite.
“This whole half of my life has been missing for almost two years,” said Janet Simoni, who lives in London, Ontario and whose husband lives on the other side of the U.S.-Canada border near Detroit, Michigan.
Normally they see each other on weekends and vacation together but for almost two years they were separated. The two missed major milestones including a graduation and funeral, she said.
The news of the border’s reopening unleashed “tremendous pent-up demand,” said Marty Firestone, whose travel insurance agency saw business up 25% last month compared to October 2019 – much of it from snowbirds.
“When the announcement came out (that the U.S. border was opening) they were like, ‘I’m out of here.'”
Most travelers are required to show proof of vaccination in both directions. Some U.S. states also require a negative COVID-19 test. Canada requires a negative PCR test.