Many Americans Still Do Not Come To Canada. Is The Arrivecan App At Fault

But something is missing — lots of Americans, even though Ontario’s popular tourist destination is right next to the US border. “It’s devastating,” said Anna Pierce, vice president of Niagara Helicopters, which offers rides over the falls. Pierce says bookings are down 35 percent this summer compared to summer 2019, largely due to a lack of American tourists. “No matter what [marketing] you do it in the US, you don’t convince these people to come,” he said. Now that Canada has lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions, travel is back. But the number of road trips Americans took here in the past two months was still down 45 percent compared to the same period in 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodait says only a “very small amount of US dollars” is coming to his city this summer. (Darek Zdzienicki/CBC) This lack of visitors is taking a toll on Niagara Falls. “When you talk to any business in town, they’ll tell you there’s a very small amount of US dollars coming in,” Mayor Jim Diodati said. “It was painful, especially after two years of COVID.” What’s keeping Americans away? There could be many factors, including Canada’s mandate of vaccines for foreign travelers and the lingering effects of the pandemic. “There is definitely a relatively slow recovery coming out of the pandemic,” said Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. “I think people have changed their spending habits. They’ve changed their holiday habits.” Travelers must use the ArriveCAN app to submit their COVID-19 vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. (Sue Goodspeed/CBC) But the mayor, along with several business owners in Niagara Falls, told CBC News they believe the ArriveCAN app is a big deterrent for American travelers on the road. They are therefore calling on the federal government to scrap the app or at least make it optional. “I talked to Americans,” Diodate said. “They say, ‘Just skip Canada.’ It’s easier to go to Europe than to Canada.” ArriveCAN was introduced early in the pandemic as a safety measure for COVID-19. Travelers must use it to submit their vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. The app has already received bad press in Canada, where some travelers have complained that it’s inconvenient, has glitches and isn’t user-friendly for seniors. Pierce says the app also causes problems for would-be tourists. She says several US customers have contacted her company to cancel their bookings because they found out at the border they had to use ArriceCAN, were shocked when they tried to download it or complete and bail it. “They just say, ‘You know what, it’s not worth it, sorry, see you later,’” Pierce said.

Ottawa defends the application

On July 29, the Canada Border Services Agency announced that foreign travelers who arrive at the land border without knowledge of the application will receive a one-time pass into the country.
But Diodati says the suspension won’t help because travelers still have to fill out the application on subsequent visits. “It’s like putting lipstick on a pig,” he said. “Tourists are like water. They take the path of least resistance. It’s just easier not to come here, and many have already made the choice.” WATCHES | Fewer Americans are driving in Canada:

Fewer Americans driving to Canada, Arrive MAY be a factor

Experts say a number of factors are preventing Americans from taking road trips to Canada, including changing habits during the pandemic. But many say using the ArriveCAN app to provide vaccination status before crossing the border is a big deterrent. This week, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra defended ArriveCAN, saying it reduces waiting times at the border. “Given the fact that we require a vaccine certificate to enter Canada, without it, the verification process would be manual,” he said at a news conference in Windsor, Ont. “This tool is useful and really enhances efficiency.”

What do Americans say?

Some Americans who visited the falls this week told CBC News they had no problems with the app. “It was very easy to fill out. There’s nothing to it,” said Madhuri Reddy, a dual Canadian-American citizen who drove to Niagara Falls from her home just outside Boston. She said her Canadian parents had warned her about the application requirement in advance. Matt Myford of Pittsburgh, Pa., says he and his wife, Mandy, likely won’t visit Canada until the application is rejected or at least waived for day-trippers. (Submitted by Matt Myford) But Matt Myford, who never made it to Niagara Falls, says he had a different experience. He and his wife, Mandy, spontaneously decided to visit Niagara Falls for a few hours during a road trip to Buffalo, New York, in June. He said they had never heard of ArriveCAN until they got close to the border. “We saw the signs on the freeway, something about Arrive — something, so we Googled it,” said Myford, who lives just outside Pittsburgh, Pa. The couple downloaded the application and had trouble filling it out because it asked for a Canadian address, which they didn’t have. Nevertheless, they finally managed to complete it and lined up at the border. But since the traffic was reinforced and they were barely moving, the couple stood by their plans. Myford says they likely won’t attempt another visit to Canada until the application is dismissed or at least waived for day-trippers. “It left a bitter taste in our mouths,” he said. The rest of Canada’s travel restrictions, including the ArriveCAN requirement, are to remain in place at least until September 30. Alghabra says it is evaluating feedback on the app, but has given no indication that it could be dropped. “We are listening and working with our stakeholders,” he said. “I have no announcement yet.” The government currently has a new feature in ArriveCAN that allows travelers to submit their customs declaration digitally. This feature is optional.

title: “Many Americans Still Do Not Come To Canada. Is The Arrivecan App At Fault Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-01” author: “Carl Yocum”

But something is missing — lots of Americans, even though Ontario’s popular tourist destination is right next to the US border. “It’s devastating,” said Anna Pierce, vice president of Niagara Helicopters, which offers rides over the falls. Pierce says bookings are down 35 percent this summer compared to summer 2019, largely due to a lack of American tourists. “No matter what [marketing] you do it in the US, you don’t convince these people to come,” he said. Now that Canada has lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions, travel is back. But the number of road trips Americans took here in the past two months was still down 45 percent compared to the same period in 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodait says only a “very small amount of US dollars” is coming to his city this summer. (Darek Zdzienicki/CBC) This lack of visitors is taking a toll on Niagara Falls. “When you talk to any business in town, they’ll tell you there’s a very small amount of US dollars coming in,” Mayor Jim Diodati said. “It was painful, especially after two years of COVID.” What’s keeping Americans away? There could be many factors, including Canada’s mandate of vaccines for foreign travelers and the lingering effects of the pandemic. “There is definitely a relatively slow recovery coming out of the pandemic,” said Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. “I think people have changed their spending habits. They’ve changed their holiday habits.” Travelers must use the ArriveCAN app to submit their COVID-19 vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. (Sue Goodspeed/CBC) But the mayor, along with several business owners in Niagara Falls, told CBC News they believe the ArriveCAN app is a big deterrent for American travelers on the road. They are therefore calling on the federal government to scrap the app or at least make it optional. “I talked to Americans,” Diodate said. “They say, ‘Just skip Canada.’ It’s easier to go to Europe than to Canada.” ArriveCAN was introduced early in the pandemic as a safety measure for COVID-19. Travelers must use it to submit their vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. The app has already received bad press in Canada, where some travelers have complained that it’s inconvenient, has glitches and isn’t user-friendly for seniors. Pierce says the app also causes problems for would-be tourists. She says several US customers have contacted her company to cancel their bookings because they found out at the border they had to use ArriceCAN, were shocked when they tried to download it or complete and bail it. “They just say, ‘You know what, it’s not worth it, sorry, see you later,’” Pierce said.

Ottawa defends the application

On July 29, the Canada Border Services Agency announced that foreign travelers who arrive at the land border without knowledge of the application will receive a one-time pass into the country.
But Diodati says the suspension won’t help because travelers still have to fill out the application on subsequent visits. “It’s like putting lipstick on a pig,” he said. “Tourists are like water. They take the path of least resistance. It’s just easier not to come here, and many have already made the choice.” WATCHES | Fewer Americans are driving in Canada:

Fewer Americans driving to Canada, Arrive MAY be a factor

Experts say a number of factors are preventing Americans from taking road trips to Canada, including changing habits during the pandemic. But many say using the ArriveCAN app to provide vaccination status before crossing the border is a big deterrent. This week, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra defended ArriveCAN, saying it reduces waiting times at the border. “Given the fact that we require a vaccine certificate to enter Canada, without it, the verification process would be manual,” he said at a news conference in Windsor, Ont. “This tool is useful and really enhances efficiency.”

What do Americans say?

Some Americans who visited the falls this week told CBC News they had no problems with the app. “It was very easy to fill out. There’s nothing to it,” said Madhuri Reddy, a dual Canadian-American citizen who drove to Niagara Falls from her home just outside Boston. She said her Canadian parents had warned her about the application requirement in advance. Matt Myford of Pittsburgh, Pa., says he and his wife, Mandy, likely won’t visit Canada until the application is rejected or at least waived for day-trippers. (Submitted by Matt Myford) But Matt Myford, who never made it to Niagara Falls, says he had a different experience. He and his wife, Mandy, spontaneously decided to visit Niagara Falls for a few hours during a road trip to Buffalo, New York, in June. He said they had never heard of ArriveCAN until they got close to the border. “We saw the signs on the freeway, something about Arrive — something, so we Googled it,” said Myford, who lives just outside Pittsburgh, Pa. The couple downloaded the application and had trouble filling it out because it asked for a Canadian address, which they didn’t have. Nevertheless, they finally managed to complete it and lined up at the border. But since the traffic was reinforced and they were barely moving, the couple stood by their plans. Myford says they likely won’t attempt another visit to Canada until the application is dismissed or at least waived for day-trippers. “It left a bitter taste in our mouths,” he said. The rest of Canada’s travel restrictions, including the ArriveCAN requirement, are to remain in place at least until September 30. Alghabra says it is evaluating feedback on the app, but has given no indication that it could be dropped. “We are listening and working with our stakeholders,” he said. “I have no announcement yet.” The government currently has a new feature in ArriveCAN that allows travelers to submit their customs declaration digitally. This feature is optional.

title: “Many Americans Still Do Not Come To Canada. Is The Arrivecan App At Fault Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-10” author: “Jason Heart”

But something is missing — lots of Americans, even though Ontario’s popular tourist destination is right next to the US border. “It’s devastating,” said Anna Pierce, vice president of Niagara Helicopters, which offers rides over the falls. Pierce says bookings are down 35 percent this summer compared to summer 2019, largely due to a lack of American tourists. “No matter what [marketing] you do it in the US, you don’t convince these people to come,” he said. Now that Canada has lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions, travel is back. But the number of road trips Americans took here in the past two months was still down 45 percent compared to the same period in 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodait says only a “very small amount of US dollars” is coming to his city this summer. (Darek Zdzienicki/CBC) This lack of visitors is taking a toll on Niagara Falls. “When you talk to any business in town, they’ll tell you there’s a very small amount of US dollars coming in,” Mayor Jim Diodati said. “It was painful, especially after two years of COVID.” What’s keeping Americans away? There could be many factors, including Canada’s mandate of vaccines for foreign travelers and the lingering effects of the pandemic. “There is definitely a relatively slow recovery coming out of the pandemic,” said Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. “I think people have changed their spending habits. They’ve changed their holiday habits.” Travelers must use the ArriveCAN app to submit their COVID-19 vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. (Sue Goodspeed/CBC) But the mayor, along with several business owners in Niagara Falls, told CBC News they believe the ArriveCAN app is a big deterrent for American travelers on the road. They are therefore calling on the federal government to scrap the app or at least make it optional. “I talked to Americans,” Diodate said. “They say, ‘Just skip Canada.’ It’s easier to go to Europe than to Canada.” ArriveCAN was introduced early in the pandemic as a safety measure for COVID-19. Travelers must use it to submit their vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. The app has already received bad press in Canada, where some travelers have complained that it’s inconvenient, has glitches and isn’t user-friendly for seniors. Pierce says the app also causes problems for would-be tourists. She says several US customers have contacted her company to cancel their bookings because they found out at the border they had to use ArriceCAN, were shocked when they tried to download it or complete and bail it. “They just say, ‘You know what, it’s not worth it, sorry, see you later,’” Pierce said.

Ottawa defends the application

On July 29, the Canada Border Services Agency announced that foreign travelers who arrive at the land border without knowledge of the application will receive a one-time pass into the country.
But Diodati says the suspension won’t help because travelers still have to fill out the application on subsequent visits. “It’s like putting lipstick on a pig,” he said. “Tourists are like water. They take the path of least resistance. It’s just easier not to come here, and many have already made the choice.” WATCHES | Fewer Americans are driving in Canada:

Fewer Americans driving to Canada, Arrive MAY be a factor

Experts say a number of factors are preventing Americans from taking road trips to Canada, including changing habits during the pandemic. But many say using the ArriveCAN app to provide vaccination status before crossing the border is a big deterrent. This week, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra defended ArriveCAN, saying it reduces waiting times at the border. “Given the fact that we require a vaccine certificate to enter Canada, without it, the verification process would be manual,” he said at a news conference in Windsor, Ont. “This tool is useful and really enhances efficiency.”

What do Americans say?

Some Americans who visited the falls this week told CBC News they had no problems with the app. “It was very easy to fill out. There’s nothing to it,” said Madhuri Reddy, a dual Canadian-American citizen who drove to Niagara Falls from her home just outside Boston. She said her Canadian parents had warned her about the application requirement in advance. Matt Myford of Pittsburgh, Pa., says he and his wife, Mandy, likely won’t visit Canada until the application is rejected or at least waived for day-trippers. (Submitted by Matt Myford) But Matt Myford, who never made it to Niagara Falls, says he had a different experience. He and his wife, Mandy, spontaneously decided to visit Niagara Falls for a few hours during a road trip to Buffalo, New York, in June. He said they had never heard of ArriveCAN until they got close to the border. “We saw the signs on the freeway, something about Arrive — something, so we Googled it,” said Myford, who lives just outside Pittsburgh, Pa. The couple downloaded the application and had trouble filling it out because it asked for a Canadian address, which they didn’t have. Nevertheless, they finally managed to complete it and lined up at the border. But since the traffic was reinforced and they were barely moving, the couple stood by their plans. Myford says they likely won’t attempt another visit to Canada until the application is dismissed or at least waived for day-trippers. “It left a bitter taste in our mouths,” he said. The rest of Canada’s travel restrictions, including the ArriveCAN requirement, are to remain in place at least until September 30. Alghabra says it is evaluating feedback on the app, but has given no indication that it could be dropped. “We are listening and working with our stakeholders,” he said. “I have no announcement yet.” The government currently has a new feature in ArriveCAN that allows travelers to submit their customs declaration digitally. This feature is optional.

title: “Many Americans Still Do Not Come To Canada. Is The Arrivecan App At Fault Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “Kristy Fox”

But something is missing — lots of Americans, even though Ontario’s popular tourist destination is right next to the US border. “It’s devastating,” said Anna Pierce, vice president of Niagara Helicopters, which offers rides over the falls. Pierce says bookings are down 35 percent this summer compared to summer 2019, largely due to a lack of American tourists. “No matter what [marketing] you do it in the US, you don’t convince these people to come,” he said. Now that Canada has lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions, travel is back. But the number of road trips Americans took here in the past two months was still down 45 percent compared to the same period in 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodait says only a “very small amount of US dollars” is coming to his city this summer. (Darek Zdzienicki/CBC) This lack of visitors is taking a toll on Niagara Falls. “When you talk to any business in town, they’ll tell you there’s a very small amount of US dollars coming in,” Mayor Jim Diodati said. “It was painful, especially after two years of COVID.” What’s keeping Americans away? There could be many factors, including Canada’s mandate of vaccines for foreign travelers and the lingering effects of the pandemic. “There is definitely a relatively slow recovery coming out of the pandemic,” said Laurie Trautman, director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. “I think people have changed their spending habits. They’ve changed their holiday habits.” Travelers must use the ArriveCAN app to submit their COVID-19 vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. (Sue Goodspeed/CBC) But the mayor, along with several business owners in Niagara Falls, told CBC News they believe the ArriveCAN app is a big deterrent for American travelers on the road. They are therefore calling on the federal government to scrap the app or at least make it optional. “I talked to Americans,” Diodate said. “They say, ‘Just skip Canada.’ It’s easier to go to Europe than to Canada.” ArriveCAN was introduced early in the pandemic as a safety measure for COVID-19. Travelers must use it to submit their vaccination information within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada. The app has already received bad press in Canada, where some travelers have complained that it’s inconvenient, has glitches and isn’t user-friendly for seniors. Pierce says the app also causes problems for would-be tourists. She says several US customers have contacted her company to cancel their bookings because they found out at the border they had to use ArriceCAN, were shocked when they tried to download it or complete and bail it. “They just say, ‘You know what, it’s not worth it, sorry, see you later,’” Pierce said.

Ottawa defends the application

On July 29, the Canada Border Services Agency announced that foreign travelers who arrive at the land border without knowledge of the application will receive a one-time pass into the country.
But Diodati says the suspension won’t help because travelers still have to fill out the application on subsequent visits. “It’s like putting lipstick on a pig,” he said. “Tourists are like water. They take the path of least resistance. It’s just easier not to come here, and many have already made the choice.” WATCHES | Fewer Americans are driving in Canada:

Fewer Americans driving to Canada, Arrive MAY be a factor

Experts say a number of factors are preventing Americans from taking road trips to Canada, including changing habits during the pandemic. But many say using the ArriveCAN app to provide vaccination status before crossing the border is a big deterrent. This week, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra defended ArriveCAN, saying it reduces waiting times at the border. “Given the fact that we require a vaccine certificate to enter Canada, without it, the verification process would be manual,” he said at a news conference in Windsor, Ont. “This tool is useful and really enhances efficiency.”

What do Americans say?

Some Americans who visited the falls this week told CBC News they had no problems with the app. “It was very easy to fill out. There’s nothing to it,” said Madhuri Reddy, a dual Canadian-American citizen who drove to Niagara Falls from her home just outside Boston. She said her Canadian parents had warned her about the application requirement in advance. Matt Myford of Pittsburgh, Pa., says he and his wife, Mandy, likely won’t visit Canada until the application is rejected or at least waived for day-trippers. (Submitted by Matt Myford) But Matt Myford, who never made it to Niagara Falls, says he had a different experience. He and his wife, Mandy, spontaneously decided to visit Niagara Falls for a few hours during a road trip to Buffalo, New York, in June. He said they had never heard of ArriveCAN until they got close to the border. “We saw the signs on the freeway, something about Arrive — something, so we Googled it,” said Myford, who lives just outside Pittsburgh, Pa. The couple downloaded the application and had trouble filling it out because it asked for a Canadian address, which they didn’t have. Nevertheless, they finally managed to complete it and lined up at the border. But since the traffic was reinforced and they were barely moving, the couple stood by their plans. Myford says they likely won’t attempt another visit to Canada until the application is dismissed or at least waived for day-trippers. “It left a bitter taste in our mouths,” he said. The rest of Canada’s travel restrictions, including the ArriveCAN requirement, are to remain in place at least until September 30. Alghabra says it is evaluating feedback on the app, but has given no indication that it could be dropped. “We are listening and working with our stakeholders,” he said. “I have no announcement yet.” The government currently has a new feature in ArriveCAN that allows travelers to submit their customs declaration digitally. This feature is optional.