Ask Erminia Nigro, Air Canada Vacations general manager of sales for Ontario, if we should be afraid to travel during the pandemic and she’ll happily answer: “I’ve been blessed to have been on an aircraft multiple times during this pandemic. I can’t imagine not travelling, even under the current circumstances. After all, I would say feeling the sand between our toes and hearing the sound of the ocean are absolutely necessary for our industry–and our wellbeing.”
It’s a shining endorsement from someone with plenty of insider knowledge about what ACV is doing to keep Canadian travellers safe both in the air and in destination right now.
ACV: Safety First
“Safety is our number one focus,” she explained. “From the launch of Air Canada’s ClearCare+ to ACV’s extension of that program from a land perspective, we take safety measures extremely seriously–and we have been extremely impressed with the measures Cuba has taken to stop the spread of this terrible pandemic.
“ACV worked closely with the Cuban Tourist Board and our hotel partners to ensure that as soon as they were ready, we were ready.
“Although there is no pre-testing before you travel and the entry requirements remain the same, upon arrival in Cuba, they will check your client’s temperature and perform a Covid-19 test for free. The results will be available in 24 hours.”
A Canadian First
Indeed, Cuba’s impressive approach to safe tourism inspired Air Canada to operate the very first Canadian flight into the destination during the pandemic.
“We were excited to operate the first Canadian flight to arrive in Cuba,” enthused Nigro. “It caried 104 passengers from Montreal and we were confident that Cuba had all the right protocols in place and our clients could travel with confidence. All the passengers took the free Covid-19 test and all the results were negative.”
As a result, ACV is now offering the following operations into Cuba: YYZ-CCC, YUL-CCC, YYZ-VRA and YUL-VRA. YUL-SNU and YYZ-SNU are due to start December 20.
This is exactly the kind of good-news story that’s going to help the travel and tourism industry get back on its feet—a subject that’s clearly close to Nigro’s heart.
“It’s important to get the message out about how safe it is to travel to Cuba with ACV right now, not only so we can get our industry back on track, but so we can showcase what destinations like Cuba are doing to ensure the safety of tourists.
Bouncing Back
“This industry will bounce back with a vengeance, but it’s amazing to think that people are still under the impression that they can’t travel. I truly commend those travel agent partners who are doing live videos in destination or even from their home offices. They are showing their real worth as travel consultants right now more than ever before.
“Make your clients aware of the safety measures, and if you get the opportunity, experience travel yourself and show it off to the world through social media. After a recent trip, I was amazed by how many friends sent me personal messages saying that I had inspired them with my social media posts. They had questions and they wanted to start a conversation about travel.
“Most of the people I talk to outside the industry are itching to travel, so this truly is the time to encourage them to have their virtual get-togethers with their family and friends and start planning that vacation.
“With all the necessary measures in place, from our Groups Flex program, CareFlexPlus, Covid-19 insurance and CleanCare+ measures, now is the time to help them plan that trip to Cuba!”
