Destinations
Israel Launches Corona-Safe Mini-Site
As Israel reopens to fully vaccinated and recovered incoming tourists, the Israel Ministry of Tourism has launched a dedicated landing page on its website that incorporates all the necessary and useful information related to local Corona guidelines that a vaccinated/recovered tourist would need to visit to Israel. The landing page, which will be updated in accordance with any future changes in regulations, is currently in English and will be translated to other languages in the near future. Information includes: Planning Your Trip -- definition of vaccinated and recovered...
Israel Set To Reopen Jan. 9
The Israel Ministry of Tourism is advising that as of Sun., Jan. 9, the country will reopen its borders to all international travellers, which means that US and Canadian travellers will be able to freely enter and depart the country as of that date. Commenting on the announcement, Gal Hana, Israel's Director of Tourism for Canada, said: “There’s no better way to kick-start 2022 than with the news that Israel is reopening its borders to international travellers including Canadian citizens beginning this Sunday.” Hana continued: “The country has implemented numerous...
Good News From Ireland
Tourism Ireland is welcoming the news of the lifting of additional pre-testing requirements for travel to the island of Ireland. For visitors arriving into the Republic of Ireland from Thurs., Jan. 6, vaccinated people with a valid Digital COVID Certificate or another valid proof of recent infection or vaccination will not need a test. Unvaccinated people will need a “not detected” PCR test result taken within 72 hours of their arrival into Ireland. These new regulations are effective immediately for the Republic of Ireland: Vaccinated or recovered travellers into...
Stepping Up The Fight For Independents
ACTA is stepping up its advocacy efforts, submitting a new relief proposal to the federal government focusing specifically on independent travel agents; and seeking further clarity on lockdown benefits for advisors. The industry association points out that the new year has once again brought massive challenges for travel agencies and travel agents including a blanket Level 3 travel advisory that has resulted in cancellations and staff shortages throughout the industry as the result of Omicron as well as cancelled programs and flight schedule changes. Wendy Paradis, ACTA president,...
G Adventures Rewards Travel Heroes With G-Normous
G Adventures is kicking off 2022 with the return of G-Normous, its biggest annual agent incentive. Now in its ninth consecutive year, G-Normous is back bigger than ever before with $75,000 worth of cash and prizes up for grabs across the U.S. and Canada to thank travel agent partners for their support, and for being such heroes, this past year. From Jan. 1 to April 30, 2022 agents have the opportunity to win cash and prizes each month, to compete in fun community challenges, and to vie for the $5,000 grand prize for the overall G-Normous top seller in Canada. The more lives...
TIAO Updates Members On Support Eligibility
The Travel Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is advising its members that a ‘spreadsheet error’ may have affected their eligibility for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP). TIAO reports that the federal government has advised that recent applicants for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) may have been affected by an error in the calculation spreadsheet for wage and hiring support, which erroneously showed they were ineligible for the THRP when they may have been eligible. Members may have been affected if: They were applying for period...
WAVE Season Offers From Scenic
Scenic Canada has set sail with a number of special WAVE season offers for new bookings made by March 31, 2022. On the rivers of Europe, Scenic is offering early payment savings of 5% on selected 2022 sailings if the booking is paid in full six months prior to departure or at time of booking, whichever is closer; free or reduced Economy Airfare; and free door-to-door chauffeur transfers OR free one-night hotel accommodation before or after the cruise. Booking a 2022 Mekong River sailing duplicates the chauffeur or hotel offer and increases the early payment discount to 10% and...
ACV Temporarily Suspending Service To 14 Sun Destinations
In a message to its partners, Air Canada Vacations’ vice-president, Nino Montagnese is advising that the company will be temporarily suspending service to a number of its sun destinations. Montagnese writes: “At first glance, 2022 can be mistaken for its predecessor. Omicron ushered in a wave of renewed uncertainty that coincided with the holidays and impacted our industry yet again. But unlike the heavy restrictions that kicked off 2021, this setback is a molehill, not a mountain. And this year is nothing like the last. We’re stronger, wiser and well-prepared to manage the...