Canadians hoping to hike in the White Mountains this summer will have to wait until the end of August to do so.
Despite Canada reopening their borders to vaccinated Americans starting Aug. 9, the Biden administration announced today the U.S. will keep its borders closed until August 21.
For 488 days the United States has limited travel from Canada into the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Essential travel is currently the only approved means of entry for Canadians into the country. This means those traveling for work, school and medical purposes, among others, are able to enter the country.
One part of the New Hampshire economy getting squeezed by the ongoing ban is tourism.
New Hampshire Tourism officials projected 3.45 million visitors would come to the Granite State this summer. Those numbers would generate $1.8 billion in spending.
Canadian visitors usually boost those numbers. New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine representatives wrote to the Department of Homeland Security in June urging the border to be reopened. In it, they shared that Canadian tourists spend $500 million across northern New England.
With the loss in revenue, Gov. Chris Sununu wants the borders reopened to support business.
“This decision by the federal government to once again delay border crossings with Canada is absurd,” Sununu said in a statement. “It harms our small businesses and families, and does not follow the science.”
Previously, Canada required a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. Now this quarantine requirement will be waived for Americans entering starting Aug. 9.
In a month’s time, travel across both borders will be fully open. But with Canada leading the charge, Sununu is disappointed the United States is not welcoming Canadian visitors into the country sooner.
“Canada has announced they will open their borders to fully vaccinated Americans, and it’s time the United States follows suit,” said Sununu.