Canada cracks down on Alaska-bound American ‘tourists’
The Canada Border Services Agency is cracking down on Americans traveling to Alaska overland.
The agency wants to shut a loophole which has seen Americans caught sightseeing and hiking in Canada after telling border agents they were headed to Alaska.
In June Royal Canadian Mounted Police found several Americans making nonessential stops to hike in Banff National Park.
They were later each fined several hundred dollars.
Canadian authorities have allowed the overland route to stay open despite nonessential travel banned between the US and Canada.
Now they have pledged to get tough.
Alaska-bound travelers may now only enter at five border crossing points – Abbotsford-Huntingdon (British Columbia), Kingsgate (British Columbia), Osoyoos (British Columbia), Coutts (Alberta), and North Portal (Saskatchewan).
They will be given sufficient time to make the journey with rest stops but must take the most direct route without side trips.
They are expressly banned from entering national parks, leisure and tourism locations, the agency said.
"These measures are put in place to further reduce the risk of introduction of Covid-19 cases and to minimize the amount of time that in-transit travelers are in Canada," the agency said.
Each vehicle will be issued with a ‘hang tag’ for the rear view mirror which must be displayed stating they are ‘transit’ travelers and includes the date they must leave Canada.
"In-transit travelers are encouraged to use only those services that are open to travellers along the direct route on which they are travelling."
Any violations fall under the Quarantine Act which could potentially lead to $750,000 in fines and a prison sentence.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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