CATO reminding travellers to register with Foreign Affairs

­In light of ongoing travel concerns in some parts of the world, the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is raising awareness of the need for Canadians to be registered with Foreign Affairs when travelling abroad.

CATO Executive Director Pierre Lepage met recently with Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) of the Canadian Depart­­­ment of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Development, to discuss the matter. Lepage said “the Minister asked CATO to assist in reminding clients of the multiple services offered by Consular Services in 260 locations around the world, and easily accessible through its website at travel.gc.ca."

He said particular emphasis was placed on the need for tour operators and travel agents to advise and remind clients to register with Foreign Affairs, regardless of their destination, so that consular staff would be able to contact and assist them more readily if and when the need arose.

Lepage said CATO members will be made aware of all the services and asked to assist in communicating the need to register to travel agents and customers.