Destinations
Grenada Launches Travel Expert Program
The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched its new travel agent specialist program -- an e-learning program that allows the travel agent community to acquire the knowledge necessary to become an expert in selling the destination. With interest in international travel continues to make its comeback, the GTA recognizes the importance of the travel advisor’s role in meeting this demand and thus developed the program to aid them in sharing the destination’s allure with their clients. Agents will also be kept up to date on new developments such as updates to Grenada’s Pure...
U.S. Virgin Islands Reporting Banner Year In 2021
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism reports that 2021 was a banner year, beating the Territory’s previous performances in 2020 and 2019. The U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research reports 738,040 air arrivals for the period January to November 2021, a 102.5% increase over the similar period in 2020 and close to 30% from 2019. USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte said he looked forward to receiving the final statistics for 2021, since December was a particularly impressive month for the Territory, based on data gleaned from its Travel Screening...
Cayman Islands Says Welcome To Families
The Cayman Islands has entered Phase 5 of its strategic phased reopening plan on Jan. 20, 2022. Under this new phase, children aged 11 years and younger will be permitted to travel to the destination accompanied by vaccinated adults regardless of the child’s vaccination status. In addition, quarantine requirements for all travellers are shortened from 10 days to seven days, and testing protocols have been altered – now requiring travelers to submit a lateral flow test (LFT) on days two, five and seven of their stay. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said that: “These changes...
Visit Orlando Launches New Training Platform For Agents
Visit Orlando has launched a reimagined Orlando Travel Academy, featuring new interactive sales tools, resources for travel advisors and corresponding app. The Orlando Travel Academy – www.orlandotravelacademy.com -- offers travel advisors quick and easy access to sales planning resources, including digital brochures, maps, itineraries and an on-demand training curriculum Features include: In-depth modules, webinars and training videos to educate travel advisors on how to sell the destination, keep clients updated on the latest news and provide increased value for their...
Ireland Keeps Making Visitors Feel Special
Did Paul McCartney leave Ireland's Leslie Castle saying Maybe I'm Amazed by what it offers those wanting to tie the knot? Well, Michelle Maguire would likely think that's the case. Maguire is with Ireland's Blue Book, which has 59 properties throughout Ireland, among them Leslie Castle, once a wedding venue for ex-Beatle McCartney, and says that that structure is just one of many her employer offers which can host memorable weddings. And Sandra Moffatt, Canadian director for Tourism Ireland, told a Thursday Baxter Media webcast that great wedding options can be found throughout...
PATA Says Travel Demand Remains Uneven
PATA reports that forecasts for international visitor arrivals into 39 Asia Pacific destinations between 2022 and 2024, show generally strong growth rates following a slight annual gain in foreign arrival numbers in 2021 under the mild scenario. For the medium and severe scenarios, calendar year 2021 is expected to be the bottom of the arrivals trough, with substantial annual growth rates occurring thereafter to 2024. These will result in strong increases in absolute numbers of international visitor arrivals, however, only under the mild scenario is the volume of international...
Tokyo: City Of Contrasts
The Canadian director of Tokyo Tourism says Tokyo's ultra-modern side enables tourists to reach for the skies in a major way. And Shin Kawai says shortly after doing so those same visitors can step well back into the city's long past. Kawai said during a Wednesday Baxter Media webcast that Japan's capital is a "city of contrasts -- old and new," with the new represented in part by Tokyo SKYTREE, a 634-meter-high structure that's a broadcasting tower with observation decks that provide visitors with dramatic views of the metropolis. But Kawai added that shortly after visiting that...
Explore Canada, USA With Collette And Save
Collette is offering travel advisors an opportunity to save their clients up to 15% on its tours in North America, featuring programs in both Canada and the United States. The offer is valid on new retail bookings only made 1/26/2022 -- 2/04/2022 for travel 2/1/2022 -- 12/31/2022. And the offer code EXPLORE22 must be used at time of booking for savings. Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, President of Collette, said: “We’re so excited to give your clients the chance to explore close to home while putting advanced commission payments into your pocket, it’s an opportunity you’ll all want...