"Travellers have been waiting for this."

That is how Deborah Schroeder, owner of South East Travel in Steinbach is reacting to news out of Ottawa this week that the last of Canada's COVID-19 border restrictions will expire first thing Saturday morning. A cabinet order affecting mandatory vaccinations, testing and quarantine of international travellers will expire September 30th. That expiry also spells the end of insisting travellers use the ArriveCAN app to input their vaccine status and test results, though the app will live on as an optional tool for customs and immigration.

"This will definitely push the demand for travel even higher," she says.

Schroeder adds they have been getting feedback from their clients since word came from the federal government that these changes would be coming.

"Absolutely, what a huge relief," she says.

Schroeder notes what seems to excite people the most is that the ArriveCAN app will no longer be a required tool.

"This is something travellers have been waiting for, to have been removed," she adds.

Even though Canada is making changes, Schroeder warns travellers that many other countries will still have restrictions in place for unvaccinated travellers and it is important to double-check entry requirements before planning your trip.

According to Schroeder, this announcement will probably only increase the workload in her office. She says it has been an extremely busy last 18 months, and things will only intensify. Contrary to what some might think, Schroeder says even before these changes were announced, the demand to travel has been higher than availability around the globe. 

She notes many packages are selling faster than ever. As a result, there may be limited options still available for this upcoming winter. Schroeder notes many packages for winter sold out in spring already. 

"The last minute shopper will have to pay higher than expected or needs to shift travel dates as the desired (package) most likely will be sold out," she notes.

Schroeder says Mexico is again a hotspot for winter destination bookings by southern Manitoba travellers.

"It mostly goes back to wherever we can go direct," she adds.

But, Schroeder says the river cruising market is also now very popular and she says travellers are also trying new destinations. Another new trend that she has noticed since the start of the pandemic is that travellers are now more likely to upgrade; whether that means a longer stay, upgrading their accommodations or buying business class tickets for their flights.

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