Alberta ski resorts want expensive PCR tests removed from travel requirements

With expensive PCR tests still required for travellers coming into or returning to Canada, ski resorts that rely on international tourism are calling for their removal.

Ski Big 3, which represents ski resorts at Mount Norquay, Lake Louise, and Banff Sunshine, wants to see the $200 testing requirement done away with.

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In a press conference Tuesday, the organization says the testing requirement is hurting its tourism business.

“As excited as we are, our visitors are even more excited to see victory this winter. But this has been overshadowed by real challenges facing the entire tourism industry and it threatens to get to derail another ski season,” said Ski Big 3’s Pete Woods.

He says Banff and Lake Louise’s ski resorts are popular among skiers and snowboarders worldwide, and several travellers come from the U.S., Europe, and sections of the southern hemisphere to ski Alberta’s Rockies.

“Many of them are starting to talk about avoiding coming here [due to the PCR test requirement,” Woods said.

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“The current restrictions are complicated, confusing, and costly and because of it, we’re starting to see cancellations for this coming winter.”

It’s something the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) echoes.

“International visitors are key to keeping this industry moving as we sit here at the start of the ski season,” said Darren Reader with the TIAA.

“However, all of this remains tentative for the obstacles that remain at the border and as a result, many tourism businesses are at serious risk of not making it through to next summer.”

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Reader says the expensive PCR tests can cost a family of four an extra $1,000 in travel costs and that’s ultimately deterring people from travelling here and putting their money into the local economy.

There’s no word on whether or not the feds will be doing away with them, but it is being looked at.