Minister of State Yelich Reminds Canadians to Consult Travel.gc.ca Before Travelling

December 18, 2013 - The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), today encouraged Canadians to consult Travel.gc.ca, the Government of Canada’s one-stop online shop for international travel information, as they head into the holiday travel season.

“Canadians can become well-informed travellers at the click of a button through Travel.gc.ca or by downloading the Travel Smart app,” said Minister of State Yelich. “In the age of smart phones, tech-savvy Canadians are accessing Travel.gc.ca from their mobile devices in surprising numbers. In the last year, Travel.gc.ca received more than 8 million visits, not only from Canada but also from locations as diverse as the United States, France, India and the Philippines.”

Canadians are travelling, working and studying abroad now more than ever. Travel.gc.ca is a single website where Canadians will find, easily and efficiently, the information needed to make informed travel choices. Whether Canadians are looking for border wait times, facts on the local laws of another country, information on travel insurance, or travelling with children, Travel.gc.ca provides valuable tools and information to help them make smart and safe travel decisions.

Key travel information can also be accessed through Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, RSS feeds and email Travel Updates. Canadians are encouraged to download the Travel Smart mobile app by following the instructions on Travel.gc.ca/mobile.

A backgrounder follows.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
613-995-1874
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada and @TravelGoC

Backgrounder - Travel.gc.ca

In 2012, the Government of Canada launched the revamped Travel.gc.ca to provide Canadians with easy and efficient access to important travel information. This single website is an excellent source for Canadians travelling or living abroad. It integrates content and resources from 11 federal government partners to help Canadians find the information they need to make informed decisions about international travel.

News and Warnings

The site includes a Latest News and Warnings section where Canadians can consult up-to-the minute information on threats and conditions the Government of Canada considers unsafe for its citizens around the world, including protests, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other hazards.

Travelling Abroad

Through careful preparation, Canadians can help themselves avoid serious and costly problems while travelling abroad. The Travelling Abroad section provides advice on travel to specific countries, as well as useful information on health and safety, travel documents, baggage, airport security, travelling with children and more.

Registration of Canadians Abroad

Registration of Canadians Abroad is a free service offered by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada that keeps Canadians connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad, such as an earthquake or civil unrest, or an emergency at home.

Canadians planning to vacation or live abroad can sign up within minutes.

Returning to Canada

Every year, millions of Canadians who have travelled and lived abroad will return to Canada. Everything they need to know about the process for re-entering Canada—including information on going through customs, hints on what to do if they are sick, and links to the provincial and territorial government resources they need to move back to Canada—are available in the Returning to Canada section.

Assistance

If they require consular help while abroad, Canadian citizens can request assistance. Travel.gc.ca’s section on Assistance provides information on how to contact Canadian embassies and consulates worldwide, and what to do and how to get help in case of an emergency.

Access to Travel.gc.ca

Canadians can stay connected wherever they are through various smart-travel tools. They can read the latest international travel updates and share and comment on news about international safety and security, entry requirements, health conditions and other important travel issues.

Follow us on Twitter: @TravelGoC.
Join us on Facebook.
Sign up and log in to Foursquare.
Download the Travel Smart Mobile Web App.
Subscribe to receive daily email Travel Updates.
Register and stay connected to Canada with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service.
Subscribe to Country Travel Advice and Advisories RSS Feeds.