Travel Exclusive: Key Trends for the Travel Industry: Summer 2005

Border Security: A Delicate Balance of Priorities—As we approach the fourth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Canadian and U.S. governments have starkly different attitudes toward security. While security concerns have declined among Canadians, they remain as high as ever in the United States. This divergence has intensified the challenge of harmonizing border policies. Of particular concern to Canadians is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). By December 31, 2007, all travellers, whether by air, sea or land-border crossings, will require a passport to enter or re-enter the U.S. This article looks at the impact of those new regulations and what is being done to facilitate the secure movement of people and goods between Canada and the U.S.

Changing the Face of Domestic Tourism—The domestic travel industry in Canada is having a tough time rebounding from 2003, a year that saw it drop more than 10 percent. The future isn’t that much brighter with average growth rates expected to be in the 2–3 percent range over the next three years. While there will be continuing challenges down the road — an increasingly older population will tend to travel less — there are also opportunities within that same demographic. This article looks at demographic trends over the next two decades and what operators might do to take advantage of them.