Remote tourism operators in the NWT have mixed expectations ahead of the planned opening of the Canadian border in August for fully-vaccinated American travellers.
The federal government announced on July 19 that vaccinated Americans and permanent residents residing in the U.S. can enter Canada for non-essential travel as of Aug. 9.
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While Emerging Wisely 2021 projects that leisure travel in the territory could be possible in the late summer or early fall, non-resident travellers are able to visit some lodges under the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 remote tourism plan announced in April.
That program permits lodges to host non-resident Canadian guests if those visitors fly straight to the lodge and have minimal or no contact with NWT residents who are not employees of the lodges.
RELATED REPORTING: Remote tourism operators can host out-of-territory clients this summer: GNWT
SA国际影视传媒淔ully-vaccinated U.S. citizens will be able to enter Canada to come to the NWT with a remote tourism operator with an Office of the Chief Public Health Officer-approved plan,SA国际影视传媒� said COVID-19 Secretariat spokesperson Dawn Ostrem. SA国际影视传媒淎ny international travellers coming to the NWT would still be subject to COVID-19 restrictions that the NWT has in place. All travellers must file a self-isolation plan (SIP) regardless of where they are travelling in the NWT and regardless of their vaccination status.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒楾oo late for usSA国际影视传媒�
However, many operators say the border wonSA国际影视传媒檛 open soon enough in the tourism season to be of benefit to them.
SA国际影视传媒淚t will not make any difference for us. We have a short season. The changes are too late for us this year,SA国际影视传媒� said Margaret Peterson, owner of PetersonSA国际影视传媒檚 Point Lake Lodge.
The opening also comes too late for Frontier Lodge, near 艁utsel KSA国际影视传媒檈.
Frontier had already decided in May that for the summer it would prioritize lodge renovations and a shortened staycation season for residents instead of non-resident guest stays, said manager Corey Myers.
SA国际影视传媒淲e needed answers months ago. We needed a plan. I know some operators will try to make a go of it but for us it just doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 make sense,SA国际影视传媒� Myers said.
His lodge isnSA国际影视传媒檛 part of the remote operators program due to its proximity to 艁utsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 and because some community members work as guides at Frontier.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e looking forward to next year. Hopefully the border opening (in August) means in 2022 we can get people back up here whoSA国际影视传媒檝e been trying to come for two years,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
It was too early to determine if an influx of Americans will help Air Tindi, which, in normal years, enjoys a busy summer season from flying travellers to lodges.
SA国际影视传媒淲e think it is likely too late for anything to happen this season, but not sure,SA国际影视传媒� said company president Chris Reynolds, who estimated that float plane flight activity is down by about 35 per cent compared to the last pre-COVID-19 season in 2019.
For Gord Gin, owner of Yellow Dog Lodge, itSA国际影视传媒檚 hard to know how things will change after Aug. 9 because the protocols for remote lodges are unclear.
SA国际影视传媒淒o we have permission to host Americans? How will this affect us in regards to isolation? Will I have to isolate for 14 days after guests leave, even if my guests are fully vaccinated? These are questions I have for ProtectNWT. I called them earlier and was put on hold on for four hours and couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 get through,SA国际影视传媒� Gin said.
His lodge, located about 55 km north of Yellowknife between Duncan Lake and Graham Lake, has been able to host about a dozen guests this summer under the remote operators program.
He said that each time a non-resident guest leaves his lodge he has to self-isolate for 14 days. His isolation can be shortened to eight days if he tests negative for COVID-19. But he can only be tested in Yellowknife and taking a trip to the city costs him time and money.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been in isolation since June and I will probably be in isolation until October,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓ven if we get permission and more clarity, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think the Americans will start to come up in droves. I might be able to host just one or two groups, if possible. Usually, Americans like to come up for the fishing season in June and July. The likelihood of anyone coming in September is very small.SA国际影视传媒�
One operator who does expect to gain from the border opening is Edie Dul, owner of Hearne Lake Lodge, located about 63 km southeast of Yellowknife.
SA国际影视传媒淚t will definitely benefit us. Financially it will benefit us,SA国际影视传媒� Dul said. SA国际影视传媒淭he NWT will benefit too because more float planes will come in and weSA国际影视传媒檒l be purchasing more food and supplies.SA国际影视传媒�
She has hosted eight non-resident guests this summer under the remote operators program.
As soon as the announcement was made on July 19, Dul said she began receiving emails and phone calls from American guests asking if they can come up and stay in August and September. Many AmericansSA国际影视传媒� bookings from last year had already been rescheduled to this year and to 2022.
SA国际影视传媒淚 will be contacting them today to say theySA国际影视传媒檙e able to go ahead with their bookings. I want them to book flights they can reschedule because the situation with COVID-19 is so unpredictable,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
She estimates sheSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to accommodate a maximum of 14 American guests after Aug. 9.
But Dul emphasizes that while sheSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to earn some income from the border opening, the drop in tourism due to the pandemic has cost her lodge three yearsSA国际影视传媒� worth of revenue.
SA国际影视传媒淟ast year was a loss. We lost out on this year. Next year will be a loss too because so many guests with bookings in June and July already rescheduled their trips to next year so we canSA国际影视传媒檛 new take bookings for then because there wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be new spots available.SA国际影视传媒�
