BLAINE, Wash. – For the first time in nearly two years, people are now able to cross the U.S. land borders for non-essential travel and cars are already lined up heading south in Blaine.

The U.S. is lifting restrictions on land and air travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe.

Airline and tourism industries, decimated by the pandemic, are welcoming the lift on travel restrictions.

The ban has been felt especially here in Whatcom County and other U.S. border cities, where traveling back and forth was a way of life for many people before the pandemic.

But some local leaders, including Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce President Brian Calder, aren’t convinced that the reopening will bring everything back to normal.

“Are they going to come back? Are they going to be uncertain? You know what happened can happen again,” says Calder. “What if it happens next year? And so forth and so on. So let’s sell the property. Let’s not put our boat back in the water. And that whole negative mindset does not bode well for Point Roberts.”

Christine from Maple Ridge was waiting to cross in Blaine Monday morning and says it’s been a long time since she’s been able to access her post office box in Sumas.

“I’ve got some shoes that have been there for a couple year,” says Christine. “So, I’m hoping they’re going to take that away so Canadians can at least go down for a few minutes and come back.”

She’s referring to the Canadian government’s policy requiring everyone, including Canadian citizens, to show proof of a negative COVID test in addition to being vaccinated.

Border communities that rely on Canadian shoppers in Whatcom County and elsewhere worry that the requirement will keep them from coming down for day trips or shorter stays.

Travelers from the U.S. looking to visit Canada must still apply through the Arrive CAN app before heading north.

You can listen to a full report from KGMI’s Joe Teehan from the Blaine border crossing on our Podcast page.