Southern Alberta businesses optimistic as border reopens to vaccinated American travellers
Monday marked the first time in roughly 15 months that Americans could enter the country for non-essential travel.
For business owners in southern Albertan border towns, the move is cause for celebration after well over a year of financial struggle.
"With the border restrictions we have probably had between 60 and 65 per cent less bookings than the previous two years," said Ronald Smith, manager of Cardston's South Country Inn.
"Usually for May, April, June, July, August and September we're full completely and we've only been full four days this summer."
As of Monday, the South Country Inn still had plenty of vacancies but the hope is that things will heat up as more Americans trickle over the border to visit family and partake in annual trips.
"We're hoping that August and September will be much better," said Smith. "Some car show groups said they may book and one motorcycle group said they may book as well."
That optimism is being felt by the entire business community in Cardston that relies heavily on American visitors passing through the nearby Peigan-Carway border crossing.
"Things are looking really good from a lot of our business owners," said Cardston Chamber of Commerce president Tarence Kemp.
"Business owners in general are really, really optimistic. Hotels and motels especially, they're looking forward to seeing the traffic. A lot of our businesses that have kind of downsized or contracted, they're really excited to see some tourist traffic before the end of the summer."
In Coutts, a small border town of just under 250 residents, the reopening of the border is being met by excitement despite frustration that the borders aren't open both ways.
"Everybody got all excited and then well, no not yet. You're going to have to wait a little longer. It's only been 15 months, what the heck," said Coutts Mayor Jim Willett.
"It would help things a great deal if we could go ahead and get full travel both directions."
American visitors are also excited to travel north to visit family and get back to their annual vacation plans.
But are there any major concerns from those living near the border?
"None. Zero. People who have two vaccinations, they can come and go any way they want, however they want," said Smith.
Land borders in Alberta weren't nearly as busy as those in Ontario but for the sake of local economies, business owners are keeping their fingers crossed that Americans will consistently cross the border.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.