Destinations
Pandemic Concerns Could Impact European Ski Season
According to GlobalData, another European ski season could be hanging in the balance. The global data and analytics company notes that demand for ski trips in Europe is expected to take a hit this year due to rising COVID-19 cases, warning that these destinations could see reduced footfall as early as December. GlobalData said that December usually sees budding skiing travellers heading to Europe, which offsets the continent’s post-summer slowdown in travel. For example, Europe saw domestic and outbound trips increase by 38.3% from November to December in 2019 -- the last year...
Jamaica Gears Up For The Rebound
Clifton Reader, President of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, is upbeat about the future of tourism to the Caribbean destination. “We are no longer inside the tunnel looking for the light, we are outside of the tunnel,” he said during a recent destination update in Jamaica. “Ladies and gentlemen, tourism is open and ready in Jamaica.” After a turbulent time, Reader said Jamaica is now “averaging 65% occupancy for this winter season” — representing 70-80% of its business in 2019, which marked the best year ever for travel to Jamaica. The Managing Director...
Air North Adds Toronto Flights
Air North, Yukon's Airline is adding Toronto, Ontario to its route network. Joe Sparling, Air North’s president and CEO, said that: “As we look towards economic recovery in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories over the coming years, it has become evident to us that another connection to central Canada is going to be essential. Having a direct flight to Canada’s economic hub will kickstart opportunity for both territories.” Sparling’s comments were echoed by Garry Njootli, president of the Vuntut Gwitchin Development Corporation and a member of Air North’s board of...
WestJet, TELUS Partner On Boarding Trial
WestJet and TELUS have teamed up to trial Trusted Boarding, a touchless process that uses safe and secure facial verification technology to verify travellers' identity prior to boarding a flight. The trial was the first-of-its-kind in Canada and took place at the YYC Calgary International Airport. Stuart McDonald, executive vice-president and chief information officer, said: “The travel experience is evolving to include many touchless processes and WestJet is innovating to ensure our guests' travel journey improves to become more seamless and efficient, while prioritizing safety...
IATA Calls For Caution On DCC Validity
IATA is calling for caution following the European Commission Recommendation that the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) should only remain valid for up to nine months after the second vaccination dose, unless a booster jab is administered. Rafael Schvartzman, regional vice president for Europe for IATA, points out that: “The EU DCC is a great success in driving a common continent-wide approach to managing the COVID-19 health crisis and in facilitating the freedom of people to travel again. It underpins a fragile recovery in the travel and tourism sector. And it is critical that any...
More Countries Imposing Travel Restrictions
More countries were reporting cases of the new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.529 or Omicron, and imposing restrictions on travel from Southern Africa over the weekend. Israel is shutting its borders for 14 days and putting new requirements in place for returning travellers, while restrictions have also been put in place by Qatar, Britain, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Netherlands among others in an effort to prevent the spread of the new variant of concern. On Nov. 26, the Canadian government that as a precautionary measure, until January 31, 2022, it is implementing enhanced...
The WestJet Group Takes Off With AZOVA
The WestJet Group has rolled out a significant expansion to its COVID-19 testing program through AZOVA -- a leading digital health technology platform. The new program is designed to give guests the confidence to book their holiday travel knowing all their COVID testing requirements are available through a convenient and easy-to-use site at https://www.azova.com/westjetswoop/. With AZOVA's app-based program, guests have access to a vast network of approved testing locations across Canada and the majority of WestJet transborder and international destinations. Additionally, AZOVA...
Navigator of the Seas Now Calling L.A. Home
After being refurbished and refitted with new activity, entertainment and dining features, the Navigator of the Seas by Royal Caribbean International is back and sailing in West coast waters. It’s been over a decade since RCI has operated cruises from California. Now home ported in Los Angeles/San Pedro, the “amplified” Navigator of the Seas made its debut with a short intro cruise attended by travel advisors and travel media from across the U.S. and Canada last week. They spent two days/two nights exploring the ship’s many amenities and attractions, including a selection of...