Mexicans now need a visa to come to Canada. Could this hurt tourism?

Canadian tourism businesses are concerned about a recent change now requiring visas for citizens of Mexico – which is one of the country’s top overseas tourist markets – coming into Canada.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) said this new requirement could have “very real” repercussions on the sector, which is still reeling from the pandemic-era travel restrictions.

“Any time you put up a barrier to travel, you will see a decrease,” Beth Potter, TIAC president and CEO, said in an interview with Global News Tuesday.

“What we’ve seen in the past is that when visas have been implemented for Mexicans coming to Canada, the numbers have gone down and the repercussions are very real,” she said.

The federal government announced last month that Mexican citizens will once again need a visa to come to Canada amid a surge in asylum claims in recent years.

As of Feb. 29, Mexican citizens have to apply for an entry requirement known as an electronic travel authorization (ETA) if they hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa or have had a Canadian visa in the past 10 years and are travelling by plane.

Those who do not meet these conditions will need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said.

The IRCC says the majority of Mexican citizens will continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Canada, since many currently hold U.S. visas.

With spring and Easter break right around the corner, Potter said businesses are growing concerned about the impact this could have on them.

“Certainly, we’ve already seen cancellations of Mexicans that had planned to travel to Canada,” she said.

On top of the extra paperwork, Mexican passport holders who apply for a Canadian visa will also have to pay an application