Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Oct. 14, 2021. It was updated Oct. 15 to reflect the firm reopening date of U.S. borders (land and air) to foreign visitors.
The Biden administration announced that it will lift U.S. land borders to fully vaccinated travelers coming from Canada and Mexico starting Nov. 8, the same day that the U.S. will reopen to foreigners coming into the country by air. However, unlike air travelers, those who enter the U.S. by land will not have to provide a negative COVID-19 test.
Industry experts are calling the announcement a new stage in the recovery of the U.S. economy, and a marker of the reopening of travel and tourism. The U.S. borders remained closed for nearly 19 months.
“U.S. Travel has long called for the safe reopening of our borders, and we welcome the Biden administration’s announcement of a set date to welcome back vaccinated international travelers," said Roger Dow, CEO and president of the U.S. Travel Association. “The date is critically important for planning — for airlines, for travel-supported businesses, and for millions of travelers worldwide who will now advance plans to visit the United States once again. Reopening to international visitors will provide a jolt to the economy and accelerate the return of travel-related jobs that were lost due to travel restrictions."
Dow also weighed in on the opening of land borders between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
"This action will bring a welcome surge in travel from our two top source markets of inbound travel,” Dow said. “Declines in international visitation since the start of the pandemic have resulted in more than $250 billion in lost export income and more than a million U.S. jobs. The closed Canadian and Mexican land borders alone cost the U.S. economy nearly $700 million per month.”
This action will bring a welcome surge in travel from our two top source markets of inbound travel … The closed Canadian and Mexican land borders alone cost the U.S. economy nearly $700 million per month.
According to Paula Twidale, senior vice president of travel for AAA, the move to reopen borders will bring stability and equitability to travel advisors and their clients.
"Less ambiguity means fewer cancellations and more commitment to making future plans,” she said. “We need a plan communicated and one that we stick to, so we can build consumer confidence again.”
The greater travel industry has long held hope that vaccinations would lead to the reopening of borders and a resumption of international travel.
“The full reopening of international travel to the United States to fully vaccinated individuals is overdue, and will provide a jolt to the U.S. economy, travel businesses large and small, and to destinations across America,” Dow said.
AAA’s Twidale says that following the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines — in an effort to keep both travelers and those home or abroad safe — means following the science and opening up borders only to vaccinated individuals.
“It is a prudent measure and has been successful with tour and cruise operators who have similar mandates,” she said.
The American Society of Travel Advisors also applauded the opening of land borders in an address to readers of its daily newsletter on Oct. 13.
“We heartily welcome these changes, which we have been advocating for a number of months (especially on U.S.-Canada travel),” said ASTA in the statement. “This is yet another key milestone on the road to restarting the international travel system on which so many of our members depend. As we have said time and again, the travel industry as a whole will not recover from COVID-19 until international travel restarts in earnest. Today marks a big step forward toward that goal.”
In regards to air borders reopening to EU members and the U.K., the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) responded enthusiastically.
“It is great news that the U.S. will reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from the U.K. and the EU from Nov 8," said Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC. "It has been a long time coming, but travel and tourism businesses on both sides of the Atlantic will be breathing a sigh of relief."
“Visitors from the EU and the UK contributed more than $46 billion to the U.S economy in 2019, showing just how critical this move will be to the U.S recovery," she added. "WTTC believe governments should axe red lists completely, and instead base the risk on individuals rather than entire countries.”
