Leisure travel has mostly been at a standstill in wake of the global pandemic, and the travel industry like all businesses has had to adapt.

Now, with the ongoing effort to control the spread of COVID-19, many travel restrictions have been lifted, and safety protocols put in place with the safety of travellers in mind.

Julia Lutchman is the Owner/Operator of Evexia Travel here in Cochrane and says they initially had to adapt quickly to provide their clients with the service they needed from home, and they were dealing with trip many cancellations, credits and planning for the distant future.

Lutchman says that the feeling has shifted slightly, and customers are once again feeling hopeful about travel. She says "We're starting to see inquiries for the last part of 2020, and a lot more confident inquiries for 2021."

As travel restrictions begin to gradually lift, many people are still feeling hesitant about booking travel. Lutchman says that while moving ahead with travel plans is dependant on each individual's personal comfort level, it is important to know that health and safety protocols are being implemented right across the board. Airlines, hotels, rental car agencies, restaurants and entertainment districts have all adapted their services to conduct business as safely as possible.

Lutchman says "They're making sure they are following all of the rules and taking all of those extra precautions to keep things as safe and clean as they possibly can. Planes nowadays are probably the cleanest they have ever been, and all airlines still require you to wear a mask on board "

If you are feeling the itch to travel and looking to book a vacation Lutchman says there are some options that are now available for Canadians both in and out of Canada. She says "We as Canadians basically have respectful free reign of travel within Canada aside from the Northwest Territories and the East Coast. Mexico and a little bit of the Caribbean are open now too. In Mexico, there is no quarantining once you are there, which is nice if you only have a week. Europe is also starting to open up for Canadians, depending on the Country. You do want to be careful because many places still have a 14-day self-isolation in place once you get there."

Lutchman says that when planning and dreaming of that next holiday it's important for people to be aware of any potential risk associated with your destination. She recommends doing your homework on the country you're visiting and knowing the regulations they have in place as well as knowing what's in store once you return home.