Interactive map launched to help Canadians navigate travel amid pandemic

Canadians who are planning on travelling around the country this summer will have a new interactive map to help them get around amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CTV News.

The goal is create and promote safe travel, the online map was launched by the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable.

The map will will "help save the summer travel season," as users can enter where they're travelling from and their desired destination and the the map will help point out which parts of Canada thy are currently allowed to visit.

The map is colour-coded to indicate which areas users are able to travel and which aren't, for example a red colour mean that particular province or territory is presently off limits. A green colour indicates that the area is free to travel too, for example Quebec residents may travel to Ontario, Alberta, Saskatoon and B.C. but not necessarily Nova Scotia or Manitoba which are currently coloured beige. Beige colouring means certain travel restrictions apply.

Ontarians have the same travel opportunities as residents of Quebec and British Columbia however residents of B.C. may also travel to Manitoba and the Yukon.

The website is also calling on the Prime Minister and the country's Premiers to open Canada's tourism industry in an open letter, writing, "The Canadian travel, tourism and hospitality sector employs 1.8 million people and contributes $102 billion to our economy. It relies on the summer season to survive. As Canadians, we wait all year to travel during the summer. We need the summer. Like you, we believe personal safety is critical. However, many of the travel restrictions currently in place are simply too broad or unnecessary. Limitations on inter-provincial travel that restrict Canadians from freely exploring our country, should be removed. Canadians should be free to travel across Canada.

"We also need a more targeted approach to international travel. The mandatory 14-day quarantine and complete closure of our country to all visitors from abroad is no longer necessary and is out of step with other countries across the globe."

The letter went on to say, "Not all countries and regions are risky, and we shouldn’t treat them as such. For international visitors, it’s time to mirror the measured and safe approaches taken in other countries – like Germany, France, Italy and Australia, among many that have started to re-open borders to safe countries."

Regarding international travellers the website said, “it’s time to mirror the measured and safe approaches taken in other countries that have started to re-open borders to safe countries.”

The website also lists which countries Canadians are safe and able to travel to with limited or no restrictions. Jamaica, Mexico and Portugal were all added to the list as of June 26, however should Canadians choose to visit those nations they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks upon their return home.