Partial border reopening expected to kickstart Alberta's tourism recovery
Alberta's tourism industry is hoping for a big boost when the international border partially reopens this week.
Starting midnight Sunday, fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents are allowed to once again recreationally cross into Canada.
Those who have had two shots of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine -- Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or the single-shot Johnson and Johnson -- will be eligible for non-essential travel two weeks after their last dose.
They'll still need to provide a negative COVID-19 test.
Cindy Ady with Tourism Calgary says it's already having an impact.
"We are seeing more interest and our phones have begun to ring," Ady told CTV News. "So now we are looking at winter and obviously we have a very robust winter ski season that comes in to Alberta and through our city, as well as different groups that would choose to hold their business meetings here. It should be exciting."
The local hotel association doesn't expect the rule change to flip over a tough year and a half, but director Sol Zia does believe it'll move the pin.
"The average non-domestic traveller spends at least 40 per cent more than a Canadian domestic traveler," he said. "We're basically crawling out of where we were a year ago, and it could be a long climb...this is a start."
The American government has yet to announce when it'll lift restrictions for Canadians who want to cross the land border and head south.
The Canadian government, meanwhile, are slowly making the country more accessible as the year goes on.
The government plans to open Canada's borders to all fully vaccinated travellers on Sept. 7. Five additional airports -- Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Edmonton -- will begin accepting international flights beginning Monday.
Also ending is the government-mandated three night hotel stay for all travellers. And the Feds will be nixing the required post-arrival COVID-19 test for fully vaccinated travellers in favour of randomized day one molecular tests.
There are no changes to the mandatory testing requirements for those who are unvaccinated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

NHL veteran Perry apologizes for 'inappropriate' behaviour, says he is seeking help
Corey Perry says he has started seeking help for his struggles with alcohol following his release from the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
Claims of toxic workplace at CSIS absolutely 'devastating': PM says
Allegations of a toxic workplace culture, involving harassment and sexual assault at Canada's spy agency are 'devastating' and 'absolutely unacceptable,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.
Alberta set for $5.5B budget surplus, despite big bucks for fires, floods and drought
Alberta’s budget surplus is growing but will be offset by more than $1 billion this year to pay for floods, forest fires and drought.
TREND LINE Liberals and NDP tied in ballot support, Conservatives 19 points ahead: Nanos
The governing minority Liberals' decline in the polls has now placed them in a tie for support with their confidence-and-supply partners the NDP, while the Conservatives are now 19 points ahead, according Nanos' latest ballot tracking.
Here's when Canada Post says you should send out your holiday packages
Canada Post had released a holiday guide on when Canadians should mail out their packages.
2023 Atlantic hurricane season ends; finishes 4th for most-named storms
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season comes to an end on Thursday as the fourth
Israeli military confirms release of six Israeli hostages from captivity in Gaza Strip
The Israeli military says six Israeli hostages have been released from captivity in the Gaza Strip. The army said the Red Cross transferred the hostages to Egypt late Thursday. They arrived hours after two additional hostages were turned over to Israel separately.
What to know about the Sikh independence movement following U.S. accusation that activist was targeted
The U.S. has charged an Indian national in what prosecutors allege was a failed plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist at the behest of an unnamed Indian government official.
Alternative healer faces manslaughter charge over woman's death at a U.K. slapping therapy workshop
An alternative healer who advocates a technique known as 'slapping therapy' was charged Thursday over the death of a woman at one of his workshops in England seven years ago.