With the uncertainty of the Canadian/United States dollar exchange or teeter-tottering tariffs and the like, travellers with plans to visit the U.S. or leaving a port to catch a cruise have quite the dilemma these days.
Roland Van Meurs from the Alberta Motor Association says AMA Travel is seeing a few different scenarios when it comes to travelling to and leaving from the U.S. “We’re seeing some people that have cruises leaving out of the U.S., especially Alaska. We’ve had some people question whether they want to go.”
“We’ve had some cancellations,” notes Van Meurs. But with vacations, there could be penalties involved for a cancelled trip. “They may reconsider. They’re looking to see what any cancellation fees would be at this point.”
Some travellers, Van Meurs points out, are avoiding the U.S. altogether, which is a combination of the talk of tariffs between Canada and the U.S. and everything else going on politically.
“But also too, with the rate of exchange for the Canadian and U.S. dollar. It’s an expensive vacation when you’re there,” says Van Meurs.
Some people are even changing their airline itineraries if it’s a U.S. carrier going through the States, Van Meurs explains. “They’re changing it and say they would rather fly Air Canada or WestJet instead and they don’t’ want to support a U.S. airline.”
Ultimately, Van Meurs says, it’s the people’s choice and what they would like to do. “We get a lot of questions about ‘where else can I go if I want to just head out for three or four days?’ Instead of maybe heading to Los Angeles, Palm Springs or Las Vegas – ‘what are my other options?’”
Van Meurs says the agency is getting a lot more requests for Western Canada and Vancouver Island and Ontario and the Niagara region. “We’re seeing a lot of people that haven’t been or say, ‘This would be something different to try’ and not have to support the U.S. dollar.”
“It just keeps the cost maybe a little bit more affordable or maybe destinations where they’re not having to transit the U.S. to get there.”
Usually, customers are not asked why they’re choosing not to go to a specific location, says Van Meurs. “They usually divulge what it is. At the end of the day, we’ll support everybody’s choices and what they decide to do, and we go from there.”
But for those still planning on heading to the U.S., Van Meurs adds, people need to feel comfortable wherever they go. “There’s a lot of uncertainties moving forward with what we’re going to see or what we’re not going to see.”
“I think that puts stress on people’s minds, thinking ‘what if this happens or what if that happens?’ In all honesty, we see that to many countries with the ever-changing world as it is. Sometimes you just have to roll with it and get through the punches of it. But also, you have to make sure you feel comfortable, so you’re not thinking the entire time ‘what if this happens while I’m there?’ Because you’re not going to enjoy your vacation,” says Van Meurs.
These days, Van Meurs would love to have a crystal ball to foresee the future. “Unfortunately, I don’t have one that works.”
