ACTA says there are two significant problems impacting the recovery of the Canadian travel industry. Firstly, travellers are experiencing significant delays at airport security and customs checkpoints, and secondly, Canadians renewing passports in-person are enduring severe wait-times, sometimes having to return day after day.

These delays are caused by several factors, including labour shortages and increased administrative burdens due to legacy COVID-19 policies, as well as absenteeism.

“Canada’s travel industry, including travel agencies and independent travel agents, is just beginning the long road to recovery,” said ACTA president Wendy Paradis.

“It is essential that travellers have an efficient airport and passport process. ACTA has received reports of travellers cancelling reservations or deferring travel because of these delays, creating a further obstacle to recovery.”

ACTA is urging the Government of Canada, including the Minister of Transport, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the Minister of Tourism, to act expeditiously to relieve airports and passport offices from unnecessary administrative burdens, and divert human resources from other programs until labour normalizes.

“Considering the devastation that travel agencies and independent travel agents experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with most experiencing revenue losses of over 90%, administrative hurdles such as these are unacceptable,” said Paradis.

“The onus is on the government to fix this without delay, so that a travel and tourism recovery can recover.”

The organization representing Canadian travel advisors says it is engaging government on these issues and continues to advocate for removing all barriers to travel and tourism recovery.