Tackler's travel notes

[Tackler]

McTeague says number of Canadian travellers registering abroad on the rise

LAUREN LA ROSE at 15:48 on October 22, 2005, EST.

TORONTO (CP) - In a year that's seen an unprecedented number of natural disasters, more Canadian travellers are registering with embassies and consulates overseas, said the parliamentary secretary responsible for Canadians abroad.

Dan McTeague said there's been a sharp increase in the last six months of between 20 to 30 per cent of Canadians registering with the government while visiting foreign countries.

"Registration should be a pre-condition for any type of travel; it's as important as your passport," McTeague said Saturday.

"We've tried to encourage this at Foreign Affairs, but many do not do it. It allows us to get a better handle on where you are if should you run into trouble."

More than 2,400 Canadian travellers are registered in Mexico, which is in the direct path of hurricane Wilma.

McTeague said 90 people who chartered buses inland Wednesday are stranded at Merida airport while another 190 Air Canada passengers were sent by Mexican officials to various locations inland, McTeague said.

McTeague said there are likely more travellers not registered that are unaccounted for, and expects the number to rise above 300 Canadians in the region.

There have been no reports of Canadians killed or injured by Wilma.

"We want people to have a good time when they're travelling, but we also want to make sure that they know that the easiest way for us to get a hold of them is ... to let us know where they are," McTeague said.

Christine Theberge, vice-president of public affairs for the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, said tour operators provide information and encourage clients to register, but the onus falls on individuals to do so.

"(Travel agents) can't do everything for the consumer, people also have to be responsible," Theberge said.

"When it gets to their personal information, (people) are very careful."

Following last year's Boxing Day tsunami, Foreign Affairs worked closely with local travel operators to locate Canadians abroad.

Theberge said under normal circumstances, the Privacy Act restricts the ability to share information with third parties, and it would be difficult to have agents register clients directly on the government's behalf.

About 600,000 Canadians have travelled outside North America this year, a four per cent increase over 2004.