This year's summer vacation may be a little bit different for the many Canadians who traditionally use their summer break to travel to far away lands and exotic destinations abroad. Soaring gas prices and the recent fuel surcharges announced by Air Canada and West Jet - Canada's two largest airlines, are bound to have an effect on discretionary air travel. Industry experts are already predicting that Canadians may vacation closer to home this year. This development is very good news for Ontario's resort operators and those in the Ontario travel and tourism industry. Additionally, record breaking prices for filling their cars with gas and the new airline fuel surcharges are bound to force many Canadians to rethink their long distance holiday plans. The Tourism Industry Association of Canada predicts that soaring gas prices and fuel surcharges may convince many Canadians to forgo air travel and stay a little closer to home when planning their annual summer vacation as it is more economical for many. Tourist operators in Ontario resort destination areas like Muskoka and Haliburton stand to gain the most from this new development as tourism is extremely important to the local economies, providing thousands of jobs annually. Furthermore, any increase in tourism to these areas will also benefit the entire community. Some Ontario resort operators in the Haliburton Highlands are already realizing the impact that high fuel prices are having on their business. As a result of these tourism areas being located only two hours north of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), people are turning to vacation destinations that are close to home so that they can save on gas. Since more than 2 million people live in the GTA, the Haliburton Highlands offers a relatively short and inexpensive trip. Additionally, for those people who are looking for a vacation near home, but don't want to drive, there is daily bus service from Toronto to the town of Minden - close to several Ontario lodges. This is a great option for the growing senior population, as they like the flexibility and hands-off nature that this service provides when gas prices are so high. Due to the high cost of air travel, many people plan to travel outside of the country much less. This is beneficial to many Canadians who have close access to some of the resort towns and is keeping the local resort owners busy with tourists. Although the high cost of gasoline may turn some Americans away from traveling to Ontario, they account for less than 5% of Ontario resort business, and Canadian resorts are remaining busy despite it being early in peak travel season. For those that can afford it, higher prices will have little impact on vacation plans. However, a great many Canadians will be forced to change their travel patterns due to the rising cost of air travel. While Canadians will certainly continue to travel for the foreseeable future, they will perhaps vacation less often, travelling for shorter distances to destinations closer to home.
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