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Snowbirds expected to return after U.S. opens border to vaccinated Canadians and Mexicans

On Nov. 8, the U.S. will be opening its borders to fully vaccinated tourists from Canada and Mexico. That is just in time for a familiar flock to make its way down south for the winter.

The Arizona Office of Tourism is expecting a large number of Canadian citizens to come down for the state’s milder winter. 

Before the pandemic, the Canada Arizona Business Council estimated snowbirds brought about $1.5 billion to Arizona. Those numbers weren’t quite as high last year due to the pandemic. 

All travelers to the U.S. will be asked for vaccination status as a part of the border protections admissions process. 

Canadians can get a proof of vaccination before travel, which is necessary for air, sea and rail travel. About 73% of Canadian citizens are fully vaccinated.

Greg Hahne started as a news intern at KJZZ in 2020 and returned as a field correspondent in 2021. He learned his love for radio by joining Arizona State University's Blaze Radio, where he worked on the production team.