Canadians Reluctant to Travel; We Favour Vaccines, Closed Borders and Vaccine Passports

May 10, 2021 Jim Byers

Canadians are among the most anxious people in the world when it comes to taking a vacation right now. But we’re happy to get vaccinated, we strongly endorse the idea of vaccine passports and we want our borders closed.

A study by Ipsos in April found that 82% of Canadians perceive either a large or moderate risk by taking a vacation. Fifty four per cent said a holiday would present a large risk, while 28% said it’s a moderate risk.

That’s the second highest rate for any country in the world, topped only by Mexico, where 87% said taking a vacation is risky (57/30 split).

The next three on the “risky travel” list were India (77%), Brazil (76%) and South Africa (73%).

In the U.S., only 59% of respondents said taking a vacation is risky right now, with 24% identifying it as a large risk and 35% as a moderate risk. In Japan, only 16% of respondents said taking a holiday is risky, and only 3% said it’s a  large risk.

The study also found that Canadians support border closures more than residents of any country in the world. A full 86% of Canadians said they strongly or somewhat support closing the border to anyone from another country, while 76% said they support the idea of closing the border to anyone from another province, state or region.

For Australia, those numbers were 81% and 62%. For the U.S. they were 59% and 41%.

Asked if their economy should be started to allow business to open and operate as they choose, roughly 65% of Americans said “yes.” For Canada it was down around 45%; one of the lowest responses in the world.

Ipsos also asked residents of various countries about their willingness to get vaccinated. In Canada, 78% of respondents said they strongly agree with the idea (53%) or somewhat agree (25%). Twelve per cent of Canadians said they somewhat disagree with the idea, while 10% said they strongly disagree.

The numbers were almost identical for the UK. In the U.S., however, only 23% said they strongly agree with the idea of an inoculation, while another 23% said they somewhat agree. Nineteen per cent said they somewhat disagree, while a whopping 35% said they strongly disagree.

The three countries most willing to embrace vaccines are Brazil, India and Mexico, Ipsos said.

The polling company also asked respondents whether all travellers entering their country should be required to have a vaccine passport or similar health data certificates. Around the world, the average was 78% in the “yes” column, with 52% in strong agreement and 26% saying they somewhat agree. For Canada, 56% said they strongly agree and 21% said they somewhat agree.

Asked whether large public venues such as stadiums or concert halls should require a vaccine passport, 68% of folks around the world said they agreed (38% strongly agreed and 30% said they somewhat agreed). For Canada, 35% said they strongly agree and 30% said they somewhat agree.

Asked about the risk of dining in at a restaurant, 30% of Canadians said it’s a large risk, while 37% said it’s moderately risky. For the U.S., only 17% said it’s a large risk, while 37% said it’s a moderate risk.

About the Author